Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been injured but remains “safe and sound,” according to Yousef Pezeshkian, son of President Masoud Pezeshkian and government adviser. Speaking on Wednesday, Pezeshkian offered the first official explanation for Khamenei’s absence since his appointment at the weekend.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” Pezeshkian said on his Telegram channel.
Khamenei, a previously low-profile but influential figure, was named Iran’s supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in an air strike that marked the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. His appointment by the Assembly of Experts clerical body has been followed by mounting questions about his whereabouts, as he has yet to appear publicly.
State television described Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war,” referencing the conflict that erupted during the Muslim fasting month. The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that he suffered leg injuries but is alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication. Analysts suggest he may have been injured in the same Tehran air strike that killed his father, mother, and wife on February 28.
Despite his absence, Khamenei’s image has appeared on billboards across Tehran, including one showing him symbolically receiving the national flag from his father, with founding leader Ruhollah Khomeini observing. Thousands of pro-government supporters brandished his posters at a rally on Monday, though public opposition remains, with night-time cries of “Death to Mojtaba!” echoing in the capital.
Security analysts expect Khamenei to remain out of public view for an extended period. Emile Hokayem of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said he likely “sits in a bunker for a very long time” and will delegate government affairs to national security chief Ali Larijani and military operations to parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The army, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon have pledged allegiance, while Russian President Vladimir Putin promised “unwavering support.”
Before Khamenei’s nomination, former US President Donald Trump warned that his leadership would be “unacceptable,” saying: “He’s going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”
Meanwhile, the conflict has escalated across the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported that at least one Nigerian is among dozens affected by intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles. The UAE defence ministry stated that since February 28, 262 missiles were launched from Iran, of which 241 were intercepted, 19 fell into the sea, and 2 struck UAE territory. Drone and missile attacks have also caused six deaths and 122 injuries among nationals from the UAE, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and other countries.
Drones fell near Dubai airport, injuring four people, while ships were hit in the Strait of Hormuz and off UAE and Oman coasts, disrupting oil and maritime traffic. Saudi Arabia intercepted drones targeting the Shaybah oil field and seven ballistic missiles aimed at its eastern region and Prince Sultan Air Base, where a US service member was killed on March 1. Tehran has targeted Gulf refineries, including Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura and the UAE’s Ruwais facility, while QatarEnergy and Kuwait’s energy producers declared force majeure due to disruptions.
The UAE confirmed ongoing missile and drone interceptions, with explosions in parts of the country resulting from air defence engagements.
Amid the crisis, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged the UN Security Council to designate Iran’s IRGC as a “terrorist organisation,” citing its role in regional aggression and threats to international peace. The IRGC, the ideological arm of Tehran’s military, controls major strategic sectors in Iran’s economy. The US has already designated the IRGC as a terrorist group, followed by the European Union in January for its role in repressing mass protests.
As the Middle East conflict enters its twelfth day, Iran’s new supreme leader remains a symbolic and strategic focus, while the Gulf braces for continued missile, drone, and maritime attacks, further threatening global energy markets.
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