Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was severely injured in a US-Israel attack on 28/2, but remains lucid and continues to oversee national affairs, according to unnamed Iranian officials cited by the New York Times on 23/4. Despite his mental clarity, Khamenei has delegated decision-making authority to generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the time being. The officials revealed that one leg has undergone three surgeries and is awaiting a prosthetic, while one hand received surgery and is gradually regaining function. His face sustained severe burns, impacting his speech and possibly requiring plastic surgery.

Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, in 10/2024. Photo: AFP

For security reasons, access to the Supreme Leader is strictly limited, and he communicates directives solely through handwritten messages. Even IRGC commanders are prohibited from visiting him. However, President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, has been involved in his care.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump voiced frustration with Iran's leadership, stating their inability to present a unified proposal in conflict resolution negotiations. Writing on Truth Social, he remarked, "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leaders are! They just don't know! The civil war between the hardliners, who are failing badly on the battlefield, and the moderates, who aren't moderate at all but are gaining credibility, is crazy!"

Responding to the US leader's statement, President Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued identical messages in two separate posts on X. They declared, "With the ironclad unity between our people and government, and absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader's orders, we will make our adversaries regret their actions." They also asserted, "In Iran, there are no extremists or moderates."

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei wields extensive influence in Iran and maintains close ties with the IRGC and the Basij volunteer militia. He has not appeared publicly since his appointment, issuing only written statements. This absence has fueled speculation about his health and raised questions about whether he is still alive.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP, Reuters, CNN)