Is Mojtaba Khamenei In A Coma? Reports Claim He Lost A Leg As Iran Leader Issues First Statement

Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 22:30 IST

Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made his first remarks on the war amid reports that he was severely injured in the US-Israeli strikes and was in a coma.

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed after the killing of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made his first remarks on Iranian state media amid reports that he was severely injured in the US-Israeli strikes on February 28 and was in a coma.

The first statement of Khamenei since his appointment was read by a news anchor on Iranian state TV, while Khamenei himself did not appear on camera. The Iranian media did not offer any explanation, amid reports that he was wounded in the war’s opening attack.

The new Ayatollah, 56, signalled a continuation of his slain father’s strategy in confronting the United States and Israel, saying that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed and demanded that Gulf countries immediately shut down all US military bases in the area. He also vowed revenge for the “blood of martyrs" in the airstrikes.

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Is Mojtaba Khamenei In A Coma?

Prior to his statement, reports surfaced that Mojtaba Khamenei has suffered injuries in the first wave of US-Israeli strikes that killed his father, mother, wife, sister and niece. Iranian state television has referred to him as the “Jaanbaz of Ramadan," a phrase typically used to describe someone wounded while serving the nation.

Reuters had reported that Khamenei was “lightly injured", while CNN claimed he suffered a fractured foot, a bruise around his left eye, and minor lacerations to his face.

READ MORE: Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Lightly Injured’, Suffered Fractured Foot On Day One Of War: Reports

A new report from The Sun has made shocking claims, saying that the new Iranian leader was currently in a coma and had lost at least one leg in the strikes. Khamenei has also suffered serious damage to his liver and stomach, The Sun reported, citing sources.

The report claimed that Khamenei’s first statement on Thursday was a “bizarre attempt to cover up" his injuries, adding that the new Ayatollah was currently under intensive care at the Sina University Hospital in the city’s historic quarter after a section of the building was sealed off, surrounded by massive security.

Khamenei was under the care of Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi, Iran’s Minister of Health, who is also reputed as the country’s top trauma surgeon, as per the report. The source was also quoted by The Sun as saying that one of Khamenei’s legs was cut off and his liver or stomach was ruptured.

Amid Iran’s continuous attacks on Gulf countries, several conspiracy theories have surfaced that Tehran is being ruled by a “Ghost Ayatollah." At the same time, the Iranian state media said the first message from the new Supreme Leader was written by him.

“The first message of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, will be released in a few moments," said Iran’s regime on its official Telegram handle.

Senior Iranian sources said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pushed through the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, viewing him as a more compliant successor who would support their hardline policies. Already a dominant force in Iran’s power structure, the IRGC has consolidated even greater authority since the war began, as per reports.

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