Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, was pulled from the rubble of a Tehran hospital during the opening days of the war in Iran, according to Ayatollah Mohsen Heydari.
Pulled from the Rubble in Tehran
Speaking in an interview with the Qatari media outlet Al Araby on Thursday, Heydari stated that Khamenei sustained injuries prior to the outbreak of the war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, though he provided no specific details regarding the current state of Iran’s supreme leader.
Succession Following Airstrikes in Tehran
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed power after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
International media outlets reported at the time that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe injuries and narrowly avoided death. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, acknowledged that communication with him had been disrupted.
Rejecting Claims of an Official Designation
Ayatollah Heydari rejected claims that the former supreme leader recommended his son as his successor. He stated that Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to power had no connection to his father’s post.
During his father’s tenure, Mojtaba Khamenei held no official political function, according to Heydari, who described him as a "shadow figure" and an adviser who handled inquiries when his father lacked the time to address them.
Security Protocols and Public Absences
Addressing the lack of public appearances and meetings with Iran’s Assembly of Experts, Heydari attributed the absence to the danger facing both Khamenei and members of the body.
He stated that it remains in their interest to avoid large gatherings, while communication or individual meetings can be carried out secretly.
Keep reading