Iran faces leadership uncertainty as Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly injured

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is said to have suffered a fractured foot and minor facial injuries on the opening day of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli bombardment campaign against Iran.

A source familiar with the situation told the CNN on Wednesday.

The injuries include a fractured foot, a bruise around his left eye, and minor lacerations to the face, the source said.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial wave of strikes on February 28, 2026, has not appeared in public or issued any statements since his elevation to supreme leader was announced earlier this week by Iran’s Assembly of Experts.

Rumours about his condition have circulated widely in recent days, fueled by his absence amid the escalating “Ramadan War.”

An Israeli source previously told CNN that Khamenei was targeted in an assassination attempt last week, contributing to speculation about his health.

Iranian state media and propaganda outlets have relied heavily on archival footage and AI-generated images of the new leader to maintain an appearance of continuity and stability.

State television has referred to him as a “jaanbaz” (wounded war veteran) of the Ramadan conflict, suggesting injuries sustained in the fighting, though without providing specifics.

Addressing the mounting speculation, Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stated early Wednesday via the state-affiliated ISNA news outlet that he had heard reports of the supreme leader’s injuries but confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei “is safe and there are no concerns.”

The developments come as Iran grapples with leadership transitions during intense military pressure. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who held the supreme leadership for nearly four decades, was assassinated in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that also claimed the lives of several family members, including his wife who later succumbed to wounds, according to Iranian state media reports.

The absence of the new supreme leader has intensified uncertainty in Tehran as the war enters its second week, with ongoing strikes, naval confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz, and soaring global oil prices underscoring the broader regional stakes.