Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was reportedly injured in the early stages of the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to a Wednesday report by The New York Times citing both Israeli and Iranian officials.

The report said Khamenei, 56, sustained wounds to his legs during the opening day of the attacks. The injuries may explain why he has not yet appeared publicly or delivered a recorded address since being chosen to succeed his father.

Mojtaba Khamenei was formally named supreme leader on Sunday following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for decades before being killed at the outset of the war.

According to the report, the younger Khamenei was injured during the same opening strikes that claimed his father’s life. His absence from public view since the announcement of his leadership has fueled speculation about the extent of his condition.

As of Wednesday morning—more than two days after his appointment—Khamenei had not issued a public statement nor appeared in any video message.

Sources cited by The Times said that beyond concerns about his injuries, security fears are also playing a role in his silence, with officials worried that any public communication could expose his location and make him a target.

Earlier reports had already suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei was hurt during the conflict. Iranian state media previously referred to him as a “janbaz,” a term used to describe someone wounded by enemy forces.

It remains uncertain whether his injuries are severe enough to hinder his ability to lead the country.

Adding to the uncertainty, the son of Iran’s president addressed the matter on Wednesday, saying Mojtaba Khamenei was “safe and sound,” though he did not dispute reports that the new supreme leader had been injured.

“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,” said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, in a post on his Telegram channel.

Despite years spent operating behind the scenes as a key aide running his father’s office, Mojtaba Khamenei is still largely unfamiliar to many people in Iran.

Senior Iranian officials told The Times that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pushed aggressively for his appointment. According to those sources, the powerful military organization viewed him as a leader who would more readily support its hardline agenda and override objections raised by more moderate voices within the regime.

The IRGC, which already wielded enormous influence, has further strengthened its position since the outbreak of the war. Sources said the group quickly brushed aside reservations from senior clerical and political figures whose resistance briefly delayed the announcement of Khamenei’s selection.

Israel has already warned that any Iranian leader directing the country’s campaign against Israel could become a target.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said last week that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime would be an “unequivocal target for elimination.”

“Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination,” Katz said in a statement.

“It does not matter what his name is or where he hides,” he said.

{Matzav.com}