British tabloid The Sun has claimed that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in a coma and has lost at least one leg after being critically wounded in an airstrike that also killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 56-year old is reportedly being treated under heavy security at Sina University Hospital in Tehran, with sources describing his condition as “very serious,” including possible stomach or liver damage.
It remains unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the same February 28 strike that killed his father. The report described an intensive care unit sealed off for his treatment, overseen by a senior trauma surgeon. Meanwhile, Iranian state television has tried to project continuity by broadcasting a statement attributed to Khamenei, though it was read by a news anchor rather than delivered by him personally.
Multiple accounts have emerged regarding the extent of the new leader’s injuries. Iranian state television referred to him as the “Jaanbaz of Ramadan,” a term used for someone wounded while serving the nation. Earlier reporting from Reuters suggested Khamenei was only lightly injured. A separate report by CNN claimed he sustained a fractured foot, a bruise around his left eye, and minor facial lacerations. However, The Sun alleged that he is currently in a coma, has lost at least one leg, and suffered serious internal injuries affecting his liver or stomach.
In his first message since becoming Supreme Leader, Khamenei adopted a combative tone toward Iran’s adversaries. “A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities,” the statement said. “We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property,” it added.
The claims regarding Khamenei’s condition have not been independently verified, and internet restrictions inside Iran, along with tight security surrounding his treatment, make confirmation difficult. Analysts have suggested that Iran’s military operations may continue even without direct leadership from the Supreme Leader.