Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly escaped death during the Israeli strike that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, because he had stepped outside the compound for a brief walk shortly before the missiles struck, according to a newly surfaced report.

Details of the incident emerged from leaked audio of a private meeting discussing the February 28 attack on Khamenei’s compound. The recording indicates that Mojtba Khamenei had been with his father in Tehran but had stepped outside “to do something” just minutes before the strike occurred, The Telegraph reported.

The recording also described the devastating effects of the attack, including gruesome details about the destruction left behind. According to the audio, Iran’s military chief was killed so completely in the blast that the remains recovered amounted to only “a few kilos of flesh,” while Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law was discovered with his head split in two by the impact.

Moments after Mojtba left the building, Israel reportedly launched Blue Sparrow ballistic missiles that struck the compound. The attack killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with dozens of senior military officials and members of his family, but Mojtba himself survived.

“God’s will was that Mojtba had to go out to the yard to do something and then return,” Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol for Khamenei’s office, reportedly told Iranian leaders in a private meeting on March 12.

Hossein said Mojtba was outside the building and approaching the stairs when the strike occurred.

“He was outside and was heading upstairs when they struck the building with a missile. His wife, Ms Haddad, was martyred instantly,” Hosseini added.

According to Hosseini, Mojtba sustained only minor physical harm in the blast, reinforcing earlier claims about the extent of his injuries.

Hosseini maintained that Mojtba only suffered “a minor injury to his leg,” echoing recent reports about the new leader’s wounds.

The official also informed senior Iranian clerics and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that multiple missiles were involved in the strike on the compound.

According to the leaked recording, at least three missiles hit the site. One reportedly struck the area where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was located, while another hit Mojtba’s residence on an upper floor as well as the home of his brother-in-law, Misbah al-Huda Bagheri Kani.

“The missile was so powerful that it went downstairs where Mr Misbah was, it went to Mr Misbah’s room,” Hosseini said. “The missiles were struck in a way that cut his head in half.”

Hosseini also reported that Mostafa Khamenei, the late leader’s eldest son, survived the attack along with his wife and emerged from the scene without injuries.

Hosseini noted that Mostafa Khamenei, Khamenei’s eldest son, survived the attack with his wife, coming out of the destruction “unharmed.”

The recording also described the condition in which Iranian military chief Mohammad Shirazi was found after the strike.

“He was blown to pieces – they could find nothing from him, and at the end they found a few kilos of flesh and identified it as his body,” Hosseini said, according to the leaked audio.

The audio recording surfaced as speculation continues regarding Mojtba Khamenei’s health and whereabouts, as the new supreme leader has not appeared publicly since the conflict began.

Rumors have circulated that his injuries may be more severe than what Iranian authorities have publicly acknowledged. President Trump also addressed the uncertainty surrounding Mojtba’s condition.

“A lot of people are saying that he’s badly disfigured. They’re saying that he lost his leg, one leg, and he’s been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he’s dead,” Trump told reporters on Monday.

“We haven’t seen” him “at all,” Trump said, adding that US officials don’t know “if he’s dead or not. Nobody’s seen him, which is unusual.”