Tehran, March 13, 2026 — Unconfirmed reports claiming that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in a coma and has lost one or both legs following a U.S.-Israeli airstrike have circulated widely in Western media over the past 48 hours. Iranian officials have strongly denied the claims, insisting the 56-year-old cleric is stable and has even issued his first official statement as leader.
The rumors originated primarily from a report in Britain’s The Sun, which cited an unnamed source in Tehran. According to that account, Khamenei suffered catastrophic injuries — including the amputation of at least one leg and severe damage to his liver or stomach — during the initial wave of strikes on February 28 that killed his father, the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several family members. The source alleged he is currently in a coma and receiving intensive care at Sina University Hospital in Tehran.
Similar sensational claims were amplified by outlets including The Times of India, WION, Sky News Australia, and LBC, with some reports suggesting he may have lost “one or two” legs and remains in critical condition.
However, multiple Iranian officials and more restrained international reporting contradict the severity of these allegations. Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei sustained injuries in the February 28 strike but described them as survivable. CNN, citing a source familiar with the situation, reported only a fractured foot, bruising around his left eye, and minor facial lacerations — injuries consistent with the chaos of the attack that leveled his father’s residence.
New York Times and Reuters sources similarly described minor to moderate wounds, noting that Khamenei has been sheltering in a secure facility with restricted communications for security reasons. No official Iranian statement has confirmed any amputation or coma.
Adding to the confusion, just hours after the coma rumors peaked, Iranian state television broadcast what it described as Khamenei’s first written message as Supreme Leader. Read aloud by a news anchor alongside a still photograph of the cleric (with no video or audio of him appearing), the statement vowed continued resistance against “aggressors,” promised vengeance for civilian deaths, and explicitly referenced using the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic “lever” against international shipping.
The message was released on March 12, shortly after the Assembly of Experts formally elected Mojtaba Khamenei as successor on March 9 — a swift transition following his father’s assassination amid the ongoing 2026 Iran war.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter, stating he believes Khamenei is “probably alive” but “may be damaged” from the strikes. Trump’s comments came amid broader speculation about the new leader’s visibility — or lack thereof — since taking office.
Mojtaba Khamenei, long viewed as a behind-the-scenes power broker with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had never before held a public office or delivered a speech. His low profile, combined with the ongoing conflict, has fueled intense speculation about both his health and the stability of Iran’s leadership.
As of Thursday evening, no independent verification of his exact medical condition has emerged. Iranian state media continues to insist the new Supreme Leader is actively directing the country’s response to the war, while Western tabloid reports persist in portraying a far graver scenario.
The situation remains fluid, with oil prices spiking above $120 per barrel this week partly due to uncertainty surrounding Iran’s top leadership and threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Further clarity may depend on whether Khamenei appears publicly or if Tehran releases additional evidence of his well-being.
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