Reports claim Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei in coma after strikes as Tehran airs his first message

TEHRAN, IRAN: Reports circulating in Western media claimed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was critically injured in an airstrike and possibly in a coma shortly before his first official address was broadcast.

The claims, initially reported by a British tabloid citing unnamed sources in Tehran, alleged that the leader had suffered severe injuries, including the loss of a leg.

Iranian state media later released an audio message attributed to Khamenei, in which he addressed the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel and warned of retaliation.

Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly injured in airstrike and hospitalized in Tehran

According to reports first published by the British newspaper The Sun Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly in critical condition following injuries sustained during an airstrike in Iran.

The report cited an unnamed source who claimed that the leader was being treated at Sina University Hospital in Tehran. 

The source told the outlet that Khamenei had suffered severe injuries and was being treated in intensive care. “One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured. He is apparently in a coma as well,” the source reportedly said.

The individual claimed to have received the information from contacts within the hospital’s trauma team and said that the area of the facility where Khamenei was allegedly being treated had been sealed off with heavy security.

The reports suggested that Khamenei may have been injured in the same strike that killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several other members of his family. 

Iranian state television had previously referred to Mojtaba Khamenei as “Jaanbaz of Ramadan,” a phrase often used to describe a wounded war veteran.

However, Iranian officials rejected claims that Khamenei was critically injured. Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, said earlier this week that the new supreme leader was “safe and sound.”

Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge in first address after leadership

Despite the circulating reports, Iranian state television broadcast an audio message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, marking his first address since becoming the supreme leader.

In the statement, Khamenei vowed retaliation against those he described as Iran’s enemies and said that the country would seek revenge for casualties resulting from recent attacks. 

“I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs,” he said in the message.

“The revenge we are considering is not only related to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case,” he added.

Khamenei also referred to the strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, which reportedly killed 175 children. 

“Of course, a limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will continue to be on top of other cases, and we will be especially sensitive to the blood of our children and grandchildren,” he said.