New Delhi, May 09: Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly recovered from serious injuries sustained during US-Israel airstrikes and is now playing a central role in directing the country’s political and security affairs, according to multiple intelligence and Iranian official sources.
Khamenei, who was critically wounded in strikes that also killed his father and several senior military commanders at the start of the conflict, has remained out of public view for weeks, fueling widespread speculation about his health and his position within Iran’s leadership structure.
However, officials close to the leadership say the supreme leader has resumed oversight of key state matters and is actively shaping Iran’s wartime and diplomatic strategy alongside senior political figures and top military generals.
According to intelligence sources familiar with the matter, Khamenei has been personally directing Iranian authorities on how to handle negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the war. The sources said his guidance has become increasingly influential in recent weeks as Tehran weighs military pressure against diplomatic engagement.
Despite his recovery, Khamenei continues to operate under strict security precautions. Sources said he is avoiding the use of electronic communications due to fears of surveillance and assassination attempts. Instead, he is reportedly communicating only through trusted individuals who meet him in person or via handwritten and courier-delivered messages.
One source described the supreme leader as remaining in isolation while continuing medical treatment for injuries suffered during the attack. The injuries reportedly included severe burns affecting one side of his face, arm, torso and leg.
Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the office of Iran’s supreme leader, confirmed that Khamenei’s condition had significantly improved.
“He is now in complete health,” Hosseini said, adding that Khamenei had suffered injuries to his foot and lower back and that “a small piece of shrapnel had hit him behind the ear.” He said the wounds were healing steadily.
In another sign that Khamenei has resumed leadership duties, President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with him earlier this week. The meeting marked the first known in-person discussion between the Iranian president and the country’s new supreme leader since the outbreak of the war.
The reported recovery and reemergence of Khamenei comes at a critical moment for Iran, as the country faces mounting international pressure, ongoing military tensions, and delicate negotiations over a possible ceasefire.
