Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly in good health and staying in a “safe place”, despite earlier reports that he had been injured during recent U.S.-Israel airstrikes, according to the country's president.
Speaking to ISNA, President Youssef Pezeshkian said he had confirmed with sources close to Khamenei that the 56-year-old was “doing well and there is no problem”, addressing widespread speculation over his condition since his appointment as the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed power following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on Tehran’s leadership compound on 28 February. The strike also claimed the lives of Khamenei’s mother, wife and son, as well as several senior defence officials.
Since his appointment by the Assembly of Experts, Khamenei has remained largely out of public view.
No images or direct statements have been released, although state media have referred to him as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war”. Official posters have also depicted him symbolically receiving the national flag from his late father.
According to anonymous Iranian officials cited by the New York Times, Khamenei sustained injuries, including to his legs, during the initial airstrike. He is reportedly sheltering in a highly secure location with limited communications.
Israeli defence officials also reportedly believe he was injured in the attack.
Analysts warn that the new supreme leader is likely to remain hidden for security reasons.
Emile Hokayem, Director of Regional Security and Senior Fellow for Middle East Security, said Khamenei is expected “to sit in a bunker for a very long time” due to the high risk of assassination, noting that killing him early would likely be an Israeli priority.
Hokayem added that Khamenei may delegate day-to-day governance to Ali Larijani and the war effort to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Despite maintaining a low public profile, Khamenei has long been regarded as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), overseeing security and military affairs under his father.
His ascent has been met with both support and opposition. Pro-government supporters have rallied in Tehran displaying his image and pledging allegiance, while some voices in the capital have chanted anti-Khamenei slogans.
Khamenei has also received pledges of loyalty from Tehran-backed allies in the region, including the Houthi rebels and Hezbollah, as well as public support from Vladimir Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Khamenei’s appointment would be “unacceptable” and that he would need Washington’s approval, although he did not specify any planned action.
Israel has reportedly prioritised Khamenei as a potential target.
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The annual pro-Palestinian al-Quds Day march in London, scheduled to take place on Sunday, has been banned by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood following warnings from the Metropolitan Police about the risk of “serious public disorder.”
Centuries-old palaces and mosques in Isfahan, Iran’s celebrated cultural capital, lie in ruins after a series of air raids struck the city’s historic centre, leaving officials to warn of a devastating loss to both national and global heritage. AnewZ’s Touraj Shiralilou visited the city.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was 'lightly injured,' an unnamed Iranian official said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Israel continued to exchange missile and drone strikes - all the latest updates throughout the day on AnewZ.
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $119 a barrel, as conflict in the Middle East rumbled on. Meanwhile, the Turkish Military said NATO air defence systems destroyed a missile fired from Iran towards the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has pledged to intensify the country's fight against corruption, declaring that graft is "worse than murder" and warning that even his closest relatives would face punishment if found guilty.
More than 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been displaced after clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces intensified along the border, according to a new report by Save the Children.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told parliamentarians that ordinary Iranians are paying a heavy price for the conflict that began on Saturday 28 February, renewing his call for urgent de-escalation and offering Türkiye as a potential mediator.
China will finance the construction of nine border facilities in Tajikistan along the frontier with Afghanistan in a project worth more than $50 million aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the country’s Border Troops.
Georgia has cancelled international tenders for the construction of major road sections that form part of a regional highway linking the country with the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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