Mojtaba Khamenei was pulled from the rubble of a hospital following a series of strikes in Tehran this February, according to Mohsen Heydari, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts.
Speaking with the Qatar-based network Al Araby, Heydari described a chaotic sequence of events in which the target was pursued across multiple locations. Mojtaba was initially injured during an attack on a medical facility; he was moved to a second hospital, which was subsequently targeted. He was eventually extracted from the debris of a third medical facility before being moved to a secure, undisclosed location.
A Trail of Rubble and Facial Injuries
The strikes are attributed to a joint operation between Israel and the United States. Since the incident, Mojtaba Khamenei has vanished from the public eye, making no appearances or statements. Intelligence assessments cited by the New York Post indicate the injuries were severe, specifically noting facial trauma sustained during the attacks.
Chaos at the Qom Secretariat
The violence extended to the very body tasked with selecting Iran’s leadership. A strike hit the Assembly of Experts’ secretariat in the city of Qom, leaving eight people dead. The attack destroyed sensitive documents, including records and recommendations vital to the selection process.
In the ensuing confusion, assembly members were required to record their votes on paper before relocating to a safer area to finalize the selection.
The 50-Vote Mandate
Despite the strikes, the machinery of selection moved forward. Mohsen Heydari confirmed he was the first member of the Assembly of Experts to formally propose Mojtaba Khamenei as the Supreme Leader, claiming members had received information that Mojtaba’s health was sufficient to meet the religious and leadership requirements.
The resulting vote was decisive. Mojtaba Khamenei secured 50 out of 59 votes. Eight members cast their ballots for Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, while one member abstained.
Leadership from the Shadows
The transition was marked by a strange lack of communication. Heydari noted that Mojtaba Khamenei was not informed of his selection until the decision was officially broadcast on Iranian state television.
While he has never held formal political office, the selection elevates a man who has spent his career in the periphery. Heydari described him as a figure who has operated “behind the shadows,” serving as an advisor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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