Iran supreme chief Mojtaba Khamenei’s face is ‘disfigured’ however he could seem very quickly
Mojtaba Khamenei’s face is said to be severely disfigured and he may have lost a limb after an airstrike tore through his compound in Tehran last month, but he could be seen in public very soon
Khamenei’s face is said to be ‘disfigured’(Image: Getty)
Iran’s mysterious new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is battered and scarred but still calling the shots, according to explosive claims from insiders close to his inner circle.
The 56-year-old cleric was gravely wounded in a devastating airstrike that tore through the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran at the very start of the war – an attack that also killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Sources say the blast left Mojtaba with a disfigured face and serious injuries to one or both legs, with some reports suggesting he may even have lost a limb, reports Reuters. The strike also reportedly killed several of his close family members, including his wife and in-laws, in what insiders describe as a catastrophic personal loss.
Yet despite the scale of the injuries, Khamenei is said to be mentally sharp and still deeply involved in running the country. Unable to appear in public, he is instead believed to be dialling into high-level meetings via audio link, helping steer Iran through one of the most dangerous moments in its modern history.
Behind the scenes, he is reportedly weighing in on military decisions and crucial negotiations with the United States, as tensions remain on a knife edge.
But the secrecy surrounding his condition has only fuelled speculation. There has been no official confirmation of his injuries, and – perhaps most strikingly – no images, videos or recordings of him have been released since he assumed power on March 8.
For a leader at the centre of a global crisis, his complete absence from public view has raised serious questions.
Even Iran’s mission to the United Nations has refused to comment, while intelligence sources in Washington have hinted that the injuries are severe, describing him as “likely disfigured”.
State media has offered only a cryptic clue, referring to him as a “janbaz” – a term used for those badly wounded in war.
Now, as high-stakes peace talks get underway, doubts are growing over whether the inexperienced leader can truly command the authority once wielded by his father, who ruled Iran with an iron grip for decades.
Experts warn that while Mojtaba may represent continuity, he has yet to prove he can dominate the political stage.
For now, Iran’s most powerful man remains hidden from view, governing from the shadows as rumours swirl about his true condition.
Insiders say the world may not have to wait much longer. Images, or even a public appearance, could come within weeks, but only if his health improves and security allows.
