‘He was on the stairs’: Iran claims Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in US blast but ‘recovering’

‘He was on the stairs’: Iran claims Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in US blast but ‘recovering’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in “good health” and suffered only minor injuries during the February 28 attacks, senior Iranian officials said Friday, dismissing growing speculation over his condition and ability to rule.Officials insisted Khamenei is actively involved in state affairs and accused Iran’s enemies of spreading “rumors and false claims” about his health following the attack that reportedly killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and several senior Iranian figures.Mazhar Hosseini, head of protocol in the Office of the Supreme Leader, said Mojtaba Khamenei suffered only limited injuries during the attack. According to Iran International English, Hosseini said Khamenei suffered injuries to the knees, lower back and the area behind the ears.“Khamenei was not at the place where the attack took place. They attacked his house where his wife died. He was going up the stairs when the missile hit him. He was on the stairs when the explosion knocked him to the ground,” Hosseini said while addressing supporters, according to the Iranian International English report.He said, “Thank God, he is in good health. The enemy is spreading all kinds of rumors and false claims. They want to see him and find him, but people should be patient and not rush. He will talk to you when the time is right.”Hosseini also admitted that “a small piece of shrapnel had hit him behind his ear” but insisted that the wounds were healing and that Khamenei was now “completely healthy”.The comments come amid increasingly contradictory reports on Mojtaba Khamenei’s medical condition, with several international media reports claiming he suffered serious injuries during the attacks.Earlier this month, Reuters, citing three people familiar with his inner circle, reported that the 56-year-old cleric suffered serious facial injuries and serious wounds to one or both legs during an attack on the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran.The report also claimed that many of Ali Khamenei’s family members, including his wife and close relatives, were killed in the attack.According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei remains mentally alert and continues to participate in major state decisions via audio conference, including discussions related to the ongoing conflict and negotiations with Washington.A separate CNN report, citing US intelligence assessments, said Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as a central figure in shaping Iran’s war and negotiation strategy following recent US and Israeli attacks.The report said US intelligence agencies have not confirmed Khamenei’s whereabouts since he assumed leadership following the death of his father.CNN further reported that Khamenei is avoiding electronic communications during medical treatment for burns and other injuries affecting parts of his face, arms, torso and legs and instead relying on trusted couriers and face-to-face meetings.Meanwhile, Donald Trump on Friday said the United States expects a response from Iran regarding Washington’s proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia. “We’ll probably hear from them tonight,” Trump told reporters ahead of a trip to Virginia.Asked whether Iran was deliberately delaying the process, Trump said, “We’ll find out soon enough.”Trump also rejected suggestions that Washington had only made a “one page offer” to Iran. Trump said, “Well, it’s more than a one-page proposal. It’s a proposal that basically says they’re not going to have nuclear weapons; they’re going to hand us nuclear dust and a lot of other things that we want.”Asked if Iran had accepted the terms, Trump responded, “They have agreed. When they agree, it doesn’t mean much because the next day they forget they agreed.”

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