Mojtaba Khamenei was hurt in strike that killed his father, Iran’s Cyprus ambassador confirms

Mojtaba Khamenei Was Injured in Strike That Killed His Father, Iran’s Cyprus Ambassador Confirms

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suffered injuries during the 28 February airstrike that claimed the lives of six family members, including his father, according to Alireza Salarian, the country’s ambassador to Cyprus. In an interview at the embassy in Nicosia, Salarian described the incident, stating that Mojtaba was fortunate to survive the attack, which devastated the late ayatollah’s home.

“He was also present and injured in that bombardment, but I haven’t seen the foreign media report it accurately,” Salarian told the Guardian. “I’ve heard he sustained wounds to his legs, hand, and arm. I believe he’s in hospital due to his injuries.”

The strike took place on the first day of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting Iran. Salarian noted the attack occurred during the 10th day of Ramadan, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at his residence alongside several relatives, including Mojtaba’s wife, Zahra, and their teenage son, Mohammad Bagher, who were among the casualties. Iranian media later reported that the supreme leader’s wife, Mansour, passed away three days after the incident.

“The late supreme leader was killed along with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and his daughter’s 14-month-old child,” Salarian explained. “They were in their home near the presidential office. Top commanders were also present and lost their lives. The supreme leader resided and worked in the same location.”

Yousef Pezeshkian, a senior government advisor and son of Iran’s president, previously mentioned Mojtaba’s injury but omitted details. In a Telegram post, he stated: “I heard Mr Mojtaba Khamenei was injured. My friends with connections confirmed he’s safe and recovering.”

Iranian officials have reported that the new leader is only lightly wounded but remains active. State television earlier referred to him as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war,” though specifics were not provided. Salarian emphasized that the late supreme leader had resisted his son’s succession, stating: “High-ranking clergymen asked him, but he refused to allow a dynastic system. He was elected. After the attack, they told him, ‘This is your role; you must follow it.’”

Western intelligence agencies speculate that Mojtaba is being shielded from public view to prevent potential assassination attempts. “I’m unsure if he’s concerned, but we know the U.S. and Israel will target him,” Salarian said. He also highlighted the scale of the conflict, noting that the death toll in Iran had surpassed 1,400 by Tuesday, with over half of Tehran’s 14 million residents evacuating due to the bombings.

Salarian criticized the U.S. approach, claiming Trump’s administration lacked adherence to international law. “Trump is a unique figure. He doesn’t believe in the rule of law, neither globally nor domestically,” the envoy remarked. He contrasted this with the leadership of Biden and Obama, whom he praised. Additionally, he refuted claims of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting: “The late supreme leader himself declared we would not develop nuclear weapons under Iran’s religious code, which forbids their use.”