Tehran, March 11, 2026 — Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained a fractured foot, a bruise around his left eye, and minor facial lacerations on the very first day of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, multiple reports have claimed, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The injuries occurred on February 28, 2026 — the opening day of what has become known as the 2026 Iran war — when joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple sites across Iran, including a compound in Tehran that killed Mojtaba’s father, longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his mother and wife.
A source familiar with the situation told CNN that the 56-year-old cleric suffered the fractured foot along with the bruised left eye and small cuts on his face during the initial wave of strikes. The New York Times, citing Iranian and Israeli officials, reported leg injuries on the same day, noting that Mojtaba was wounded in the very attack that claimed his parents’ lives.
Iranian state television has indirectly acknowledged the injuries, referring to Mojtaba Khamenei as a “Jaanbaz” (injured war veteran) of the “Ramadan war” without providing specifics. He has not appeared in public or issued any video statement since his surprise appointment by the Assembly of Experts on March 8-9, fueling speculation about his whereabouts and condition.
Despite the reports, Iranian officials insist the new leader remains fully operational. Yousef Pezeshkian, son of President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government adviser, posted on Telegram on Wednesday: “I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.” Other unnamed Iranian officials told Reuters and The New York Times that he is “lightly injured” but “continuing to operate” from a highly secure location with restricted communications.
Mojtaba Khamenei, long considered a hardliner with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was thrust into the role amid the ongoing conflict. The IRGC has already pledged full obedience to him. Israeli intelligence had previously assessed that he survived the initial strikes but was wounded, assessments that appear to have been confirmed by the latest reporting.
The revelations come as the U.S.-Israel campaign — dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” in some reports — enters its second week, with both sides exchanging strikes and the death toll across the region climbing above 1,700. Iranian officials have so far declined to comment officially on the precise nature or circumstances of the Supreme Leader’s injuries.
As the war intensifies, the question of Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and visibility has become a focal point, with analysts watching closely to see whether the injuries will affect Iran’s command structure or its resolve in the conflict. For now, Tehran insists the leadership transition remains intact and the country’s defenses are undiminished.
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