Mojtaba Khamenei was hurt in strike that killed his father, Iran’s Cyprus ambassador confirms
Mojtaba Khamenei was hurt in strike that killed his father, Iran’s Cyprus ambassador confirms
Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suffered injuries during the February 28 airstrike that claimed the lives of six family members, including his father, according to Alireza Salarian, the country’s ambassador to Cyprus. In a recent conversation at the embassy in Nicosia, Salarian detailed the incident, noting that Khamenei, 56, was fortunate to survive the attack that destroyed his late father’s home.
“He was present and injured in the bombing, but I haven’t seen this reported in international media,” Salarian said. “He has wounds to his legs, hand, and arm. I believe he is receiving medical treatment.”
The assault occurred on the first day of a US-led campaign against Iran, targeting the presidential compound in Tehran. Salarian confirmed the attack took place during the tenth day of Ramadan, with Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, accompanied by his wife, Zahra, and his teenage son, Mohammad Bagher, among others. The deceased also included Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and the 14-month-old child of his daughter.
Earlier this week, Yousef Pezeshkian, a key government advisor and son of Iran’s president, mentioned Mojtaba Khamenei’s injury without elaborating on its severity. In a Telegram post, he wrote: “I heard Mojtaba Khamenei was hurt. My contacts say he remains unharmed and fully functional.”
Western intelligence agencies speculate that Mojtaba Khamenei is being shielded from public view to prevent potential attacks. “I’m unsure if he’s concerned, but the US and Israel will act against him,” Salarian remarked. He also noted the former leader’s reluctance to have his son succeed him, stating that the late ayatollah initially declined the role, emphasizing his preference for an elected system over a dynastic one.
Estimating casualties, Salarian said the war in Iran had resulted in 1,400 deaths by Tuesday. “Tehran, home to 14 million people, has lost roughly half its residents due to the bombings,” he added. The attacks surprised even the country’s political elite, despite prior military preparations. “Trump didn’t respect the rule of law, neither domestically nor abroad,” Salarian said, contrasting his views with those of Biden and Obama’s administrations.
Iranian officials have denied any intent to build a nuclear weapon, citing the late supreme leader’s own declaration. “Under Iran’s religious law, nuclear weapons are prohibited,” Salarian stated. Despite tensions, he affirmed that Iran maintains friendly ties with Cyprus, even amid the ongoing conflict.
