Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in “good health” and suffered only minor injuries during the strikes on February 28, senior Iranian officials said on Friday, denying growing speculation about his condition and ability to rule.Officials insisted that Khamenei remains actively involved in state affairs and accused Iran’s enemies of spreading “rumors and false allegations” about his health in the wake of the attack that reportedly killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several prominent Iranian figures.Mojtaba Khamenei suffered minor injuries during the strike, said Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the Supreme Leader’s Office.
According to the Iran International English website, Hosseini said that Khamenei suffered injuries to his knee, lower back, and the area behind his ear.While addressing his supporters, Hosseini said: “During the attack, Khamenei was not in the place where the attack occurred. They struck his house where his wife was killed. He was on his way, on the stairs, when the missile stopped there. He was on the stairs when the explosion knocked him to the ground.”
He added, “Thank God he is in good health. The enemy is spreading all kinds of false rumors and allegations. They want to see him and find him, but people should be patient and not rush. He will talk to you when the time is right.”Hosseini also admitted that “a small piece of shrapnel hit him behind the ear” but insisted that his wounds had healed and that Khamenei was now “fully healthy.”These statements come amid continuing conflicting reports about the medical condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, as several international media reports claimed that he suffered serious injuries during the strikes.Earlier this month, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with his inner circle, that the 56-year-old cleric suffered serious facial injuries and serious wounds to one or both of his legs during the attack on the Supreme Leader’s compound in central Tehran.The report also claimed that several members of his family, including his wife and close relatives, were killed in the attack alongside Ali Khamenei.According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei remains in a state of mental alertness and continues to participate in major state decisions through audio conferences, including discussions related to the ongoing conflict and negotiations with Washington.A separate CNN report, citing US intelligence assessments, said that Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as a central figure in shaping Iran’s war strategy and negotiations in the wake of the recent US and Israeli strikes.The report said that US intelligence agencies have not visually confirmed Khamenei’s whereabouts since he assumed leadership after his father’s death.CNN also reported that Khamenei is avoiding electronic communications and instead relying on trusted couriers and face-to-face meetings while undergoing medical treatment for burns and other injuries affecting parts of his face, arm, torso and leg.Meanwhile, Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States expects to receive a response from Iran regarding Washington’s proposal aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia. “We’re supposed to hear from them tonight,” Trump told reporters before traveling to Virginia.In response to a question about whether Iran was deliberately delaying the operation, Trump said: “We will find out soon enough.”Trump also rejected suggestions that Washington had merely made a “one-page offer” to Iran. “Well, it’s more than a one-page offer,” Trump said. “It’s basically an offer that says they’re not going to have nuclear weapons, and they’re going to give us nuclear fallout and a lot of other things that we want.”When asked if Iran had accepted the terms, Trump replied: “They agreed. And when they agree, it doesn’t mean much because the next day they forget they agreed.”
