Mojtaba Khamenei Has Not Appeared Publicly Amid Injury Reports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three days after Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his slain father as the top leader of Iran, he has yet to appear in a video or in public, or issue any written statements.

One reason is the concern that any communication could reveal his location and endanger him, according to three Iranian officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters in Iran on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to the New York Times, as reported by Bangkok Post.

But another factor is that Khamenei, 56, was wounded on the first day of the Israeli and U.S. attack, they said.

The three Iranian officials said they were told by senior figures in the government over the past two days that Khamenei had sustained injuries, including to his legs, but he was conscious and in a highly secure location with limited communication.

Two Israeli military officials said that information gathered by Israel also led the defense establishment to believe that Khamenei had been wounded in the leg on February 28, a conclusion they reached even before he was elected as the new top leader that Sunday. The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Iran war sent oil prices soaring as Khamenei's son took over leadership

The circumstances and severity of Khamenei's injuries are still unclear.

His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the leadership complex in the heart of Tehran, also on February 28. His mother, wife, and the son of the new top leader, as well as several senior Iranian defense officials, also died in the midday attack.

One indication of Mojtaba Khamenei's condition is a reference on state television and the government news agency IRNA, calling him a "wounded war veteran" top leader.

Additionally, a statement from the Komiteh Emdad, a powerful government religious charity, congratulating Khamenei referred to him as a "janbaz jang," a Persian term for a veteran wounded in war.

On Tuesday, local media in Iran asked Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, if Khamenei had assumed and was performing his new role as the top religious and political figure of the state and the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Baghaei did not directly answer that question and said, "Those who need to receive the message have received the message."

Khamenei remains a mystery figure. He rarely delivers public speeches or attends public events. Iranian media outlets have started circulating a 30-second video consisting of his photos and a brief biography.

On Friday, as it was revealed that Khamenei was the frontrunner in the succession election, Israeli fighter jets dropped bunker buster bombs on the remnants of the leader's office and residence complex, reducing it to rubble, as seen in satellite photos.

Iranian officials said they believe the target of the attack was Khamenei, but he was not there.

Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated in a social media post that any replacement for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be a target. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was unhappy about Mojtaba Khamenei's rise but would not comment on whether the United States planned to try to kill him.

In Iran, although Khamenei does not appear in public, his face is prominently displayed on large banners hung around Tehran and on giant murals depicting his late father handing him the Iranian flag.

Khamenei, who has close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, has been a powerful player behind the scenes for years. He has coordinated security and military affairs for his father's office. However, little is known about his personal life or his plans to rule Iran beyond his close ties to the Guard and hardline factions.

Government supporters have held "pledge of allegiance" ceremonies to Khamenei in city squares nationwide, waving flags and holding his photos.

Read: What to Know About Mojtaba Khamenei, Son of Ali Khamenei

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