Israeli Security Officials Report Mojtaba Khamenei Injured but Present in Iran

Israeli security officials have stated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian leader's son, remains in Iran and is injured. This information was reported by the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing an Israeli security source.

Yedioth Ahronoth noted that despite a media report quoting an Israeli security source claiming Mojtaba Khamenei is not in Iran at all, no official Israeli body has confirmed this assertion.

According to informed Israeli security sources cited by Yedioth Ahronoth, the available intelligence indicates that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and present in Iran. One source told the newspaper that "the individual is injured, alive, and in Iran, where authorities are still awaiting his stance and directives."

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since an assassination attempt during the initial strike of the Israeli-American operation "Lion's Roar," in which his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed. His statements have only been disseminated in written form. Approximately two weeks ago, The New York Times reported that this behavior has raised questions within Iran about who truly governs the country.

An Israeli security source told Yedioth Ahronoth that Mojtaba Khamenei's conduct does not necessarily indicate a loss of control but rather reflects the security risks following an Israeli assassination attempt. The source explained, "The man is not entirely (in a normal state). He operates in a way that makes it very difficult to reach him, partly to conceal his location."

Another senior Israeli official told the newspaper that Mojtaba Khamenei is in Iran and injured. "They deliberately cultivate ambiguity around him, but the truth is that everything he does is dictated by Vahidi (Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmad Vahidi). He is not really an important figure," the official said.

Within the Israeli security establishment, it is also believed that one reason for Khamenei's unusual behavior is the regime's desire to conceal his location for security reasons, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Benny Sabti, an Iranian affairs researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), estimates that Khamenei continues to make decisions, although his power is limited.

Israel remains cautious about drawing definitive conclusions. Some analysts consider the report that Khamenei is not in Iran as possibly part of a "test balloon" or psychological warfare between the two sides. However, based on information available within the security establishment, the assessment is that Khamenei is alive, inside Iran, and continues to participate in decision-making under strict security constraints, in a reality where the Revolutionary Guard’s power continues to increase at the expense of his personal authority, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

It is worth noting that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Heegseth claimed in March that Mojtaba Khamenei was "wounded" and "likely disfigured."

In contrast, in May, Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour provided rare details about the day Mojtaba Khamenei was injured and admitted to an unspecified hospital. He stated that the new leader arrived at the hospital around 1 p.m. Tehran time on 28 February and "entered the operating room with several other wounded individuals."

According to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Kermanpour said, "Apart from superficial injuries to the face, head, and legs, there was no severe trauma or medical issue. Nothing serious occurred."

Kermanpour added, "From my perspective as a physician, these injuries were not considered serious and required no special procedures except for one or two stitches." He noted that Khamenei, who was fasting during Ramadan, "refused to break his fast and continued fasting until the designated time, indicating good health."

The spokesperson said the Supreme Leader left the hospital around 2 a.m. on 1 March but did not specify where he was transferred.

On 7 May, Iranian President Masoud Pezhikian announced he had met with the Supreme Leader, and their meeting lasted two and a half hours. Three days later, Iranian state television reported that Ali Abdullah Ali Abadi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, the central operations room of the Iranian Armed Forces, met with Mojtaba Khamenei, who issued "new directives and guidelines to continue operations against the enemy."