The New York Times reported on March 11 (local time) that Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, the second son who succeeded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — who died in attacks attributed to the United States and Israel — was wounded in an airstrike on the opening day of the conflict and is currently in hiding.
The newspaper said that both security concerns and his injuries likely explain why he has not appeared in public or in video footage three days after being named supreme leader.
Three Iranian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the paper they were informed by senior government sources that Mojtaba suffered wounds to his leg and other areas but remains conscious. They said he has taken refuge in a high-security facility where communications are tightly restricted.
Israeli military officials, the report added, believe Mojtaba injured his leg on Feb. 28.
State media previously described him using the phrase \"injured war veteran.\"
Komite Emdad, a government-affiliated religious charity, used the Persian term janbaz jang — which means a war-wounded veteran — to refer to him in a congratulatory statement marking his elevation.
Yousef Pezeshkian — the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government adviser — wrote on his Telegram channel that, after hearing reports Mojtaba had been hurt, he asked contacts within relevant networks to check. Those contacts replied, \"by God's grace, he is safe and well,\" he wrote.
#Iran #U.S. #Mojtaba #Israel #War #Successor #JanbazJang #SupremeLeader
Yonhap News TV tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23
Kang Eun-narae (rae@yna.co.kr)
