The New York Times reported that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was seriously wounded in the U.S.-Israeli airstrike in which his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, was killed, but that he remains fully conscious.
The newspaper, citing unnamed Iranian officials, said the new Iranian leader has delegated decision-making authority, "at least for the time being," to generals of the Revolutionary Guard.
Mojtaba Khamenei has made no public appearance since succeeding his father, limiting himself to issuing written statements, which has fueled speculation about his health and whether he is still alive, according to Agence France-Presse.
The New York Times noted that Khamenei’s son is "fully conscious" and "engaged," despite being "seriously wounded" in the February 28 airstrike.
The newspaper added: "Three surgeries were performed on one of his legs," and that he is "in the process of being fitted with a prosthetic limb. He also underwent surgery on one of his hands and is gradually regaining its function."
It also said he suffered "severe burns to the face and lips, making it difficult for him to speak," and that he "will ultimately need plastic surgery."
The newspaper pointed to the limited direct communication with Khamenei for security reasons, as he remains out of sight and only handwritten messages are conveyed from him.
It added that Revolutionary Guard commanders do not visit him, but President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, has helped oversee his treatment.
It said Revolutionary Guard generals had viewed the war with the United States and Israel as "a threat to the regime’s survival," but that this threat "has now been contained."
It said they are also responsible for military strategy, particularly the blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz.
