By Muhammad Mamman
Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “safe and sound” despite widespread reports that he was injured during the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the United States, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the son of the Iranian president. 
Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government adviser, said he had sought confirmation after hearing rumours that the newly installed leader had been wounded in the conflict.
“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured,” Pezeshkian said in a message posted on Telegram. “I asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.” 
The statement comes amid intense speculation over the whereabouts and health of Khamenei, who has remained largely out of public view since assuming leadership following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. The longtime Iranian leader was reportedly killed in US–Israeli strikes on Iran late last month, an event that triggered a broader regional conflict. 
Iranian state television earlier referred to Mojtaba Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war”, but did not clarify the nature or extent of any injury, fuelling further speculation among observers and foreign media. 
Unconfirmed reports cited by international outlets suggested the 56-year-old cleric may have suffered injuries to his legs during early strikes in the conflict, though officials say he remains alert and is staying at a highly secure location with limited communications due to security concerns. 
Khamenei, a relatively discreet figure in Iran’s political system, has yet to publicly address the nation since he was named supreme leader, a silence that analysts say reflects the highly sensitive security environment as the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States intensifies across the region. 
The war has already triggered missile exchanges, air strikes and heightened military deployments across the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional escalation as both sides exchange threats and retaliatory attacks. 
Analysts say confirmation of the new leader’s safety is likely aimed at stabilising internal morale and projecting continuity in Iran’s leadership during one of the most volatile moments in the country’s recent history.
