Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearances or released audio or video messages following the outbreak of conflict with the US. Reports suggest that he sustained severe injuries during an airstrike on February 28, resulting in the need for plastic surgery to address facial burns.
The tensions between the US and Iran escalated in late February when joint US-Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on key Iranian targets. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks across the region and disrupted the vital trade route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite being critically wounded, Khamenei, aged 56, remains mentally sharp and actively involved, as confirmed by senior Iranian officials familiar with his condition. He has undergone multiple surgeries to recover from the injuries sustained, including burns to his face and lips, which have affected his ability to speak.
Due to concerns about potential threats from Israel, senior government officials have refrained from visiting Khamenei, opting to communicate with him through handwritten messages passed along by trusted couriers. President Masoud Pezeshkian and the health minister are actively involved in his medical care.
Khamenei, who has had multiple surgeries and awaits a prosthetic limb for one of his legs, continues to have limited direct contact with Iranian leadership. Decision-making authority has been delegated to his generals, with experts pointing to his longstanding relationships with military leaders as a source of strength for his regime.