Iranian health officials on Monday countered reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was critically injured by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in the opening hours of the war, saying he suffered only minor injuries.
Iran’s Ministry of Health said that Mr. Khamenei’s injuries were “nothing special” and that reports that he was disfigured or had his limbs amputated were false. They said he received treatment for wounds on his leg requiring several stitches.
The comments are the first from Iranian health authorities to assert the health of the country’s newest supreme leader since he took office in March. Since then, Mr. Khamenei has not been seen in public and has only issued a handful of official statements to state-affiliated media.
Mr. Khamenei was reportedly present when an airstrike killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several other members of his family on Feb. 28. Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mr. Khamenei to replace his father in late March.
Since then, Mr. Khamenei has remained out of public view, reportedly recovering in a secure location under the care of exclusive medical staff. His public absence has led some to theorize that Mr. Khamenei is dead, with U.S. and Israeli officials both insisting that they are not sure he is alive.
But Iranian officials have repeatedly said that they have received assurances directly from Mr. Khamenei and that he is in control of the country and its foreign policy.
