Mujtaba Khamenei, 57, has not appeared in public since he was announced as Iran's new supreme leader.
While there are divergent opinions about Mujtaba's health, on March 15, the Kuwaiti media Al-Jarida reported that a source revealed that Mujtaba had been transferred to Moscow by a Russian military aircraft due to his health and safety. Mujtaba reportedly underwent a "successful" surgical operation upon arrival and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital inside the presidential palace in Moscow.
On the 16th local time, when asked about "Mujtaba's treatment in Russia", Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov refused to comment.
This high-level source who is said to be close to Mojtaba told the newspaper that Mojtaba was injured in the "first round of air strikes" launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. His injuries require a well-equipped hospital, sophisticated medical tracking and special monitoring, but these conditions are difficult to achieve when Iran continues to suffer heavy bombing.
The person further explained that Iran's security agencies were worried that Mujtaba's location would be leaked to doctors and medical experts, so they agreed to the suggestion that he go to Russia for treatment.
According to this person, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally proposed to allow Mujtaba to be treated in Russia during a phone call with Iranian President Pezeshchiyan on March 6. Iranian officials, as well as Mujtaba himself, carefully discussed the proposal and ultimately agreed. That night, Mujtaba was transferred and treated by Russian doctors and several accompanying Iranian doctors.
In addition, the report also quoted sources from Iran and Israel.
An Iranian source said that some public opinion believes that Mujtaba's first speech was actually written by Ali Larijani, Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, because the content is highly consistent with the latter's previous public statements.
Israeli sources revealed that Israeli intelligence agencies believe Mujtaba's injuries may be more serious than initially estimated, adding that Tel Aviv has not yet obtained conclusive evidence that he has left Iran.
According to the Russian TASS news agency, at a press conference on the 16th, Peskov refused to comment on the rumors that "Mujtaba arrived in Moscow for treatment." He responded: "We do not comment on such reports."
Mujtaba data map Oriental IC
On the evening of March 8, local time, the Iranian Experts Conference issued a statement announcing the election of Mujtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On the 12th, Mujtaba delivered his first speech since taking office, calling on the Iranian people to unite and emphasizing that Iran should continue to "close" the Strait of Hormuz to put pressure on Iran's enemies. Some Western media noticed that Mujtaba's first statement was read out by a news anchor. He did not appear on the scene. Iranian state television did not explain this.
Since he has never appeared in public, there has been speculation about Mujtaba's health.
The "Newspaper" disclosed on the 4th that Mujtaba was injured in a US-Israeli air strike, and the left side of his body was injured from his head to his feet. Reports say he escaped unhurt when debris from the building fell near Mujtaba rather than hitting him directly.
The British "Sun" quoted sources as saying that Mujtaba lost at least one leg, and also suffered serious damage to his stomach or liver, and his condition was "very serious." But "The Sun" pointed out that they could not verify the accuracy of the news.
Iranian Ambassador to Cyprus Salarian confirmed the news that Mujtaba was injured on the 11th. In an interview with the British "Guardian", he said that Mujtaba was a "survivor" of the first round of US-Israeli air strikes and had "injuries on his legs, hands and arms, and bruises on his eyes."
On the 13th, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth said that the United States had learned that Khamenei had been injured and was likely to be "disfigured." In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi responded on the 14th that there was "no problem" with Mujtaba's physical condition.
