A written message attributed to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, pledged to weaponize the Strait of Hormuz and vowed revenge for those killed in recent attacks, even as unconfirmed reports claim he is severely injured and possibly in a coma.
The statement, attributed to the 56-year-old cleric, was read aloud by a presenter on Iranian state television on Thursday. Mojtaba himself did not appear on the broadcast. His absence has fueled speculation about his health and raised questions about who is directing the country during escalating tensions with the United States, Israel, and several Gulf states, reports The Daily Mail.
In the message, Mojtaba declared that Iran would continue pursuing retaliation for those it considers fallen heroes. He said the country would not shy away from avenging the “blood of its martyrs.”
Mojtaba assumed leadership after the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28. In the same statement, he signaled that while Iran seeks improved ties with nearby Gulf nations, strikes on American military installations in the region will persist.
He said: “We are not an enemy of the countries around us, and we are only targeting the bases of those Americans.”
Exiled official Jaber Rajabi said Mojtaba is reportedly willing to escalate conflict dramatically if war erupts, claiming he is unafraid of “killing thousands” and would “try and control the region.”
At the same time, he demanded the removal of U.S. military installations in neighboring countries.
“The existence of the US bases in [Iran's neighbours] and usage of those bases to attack Iran is not benefiting the region and they must be closed,” he said.
Khamenei added that Tehran would pursue compensation from its adversaries or retaliate by damaging their assets. He also said the government would offer financial support to Iranian citizens harmed during the ongoing violence.
“A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities,” he said.
The statement also referenced potential support from allied militias across the Middle East. Mojtaba indicated that armed factions in Iraq “want to help” Iran, while forces in Yemen “will also do the job.”
He also spoke about the personal losses suffered during the airstrike that killed his father.
“I lost my father, I lost my wife. My sister lost her child as well as the husband who has been martyred.
“But what it makes it easier for us to endure all these plights is to trust the grace of God and to know that patience is going to resolve it.”
Despite the release of the statement, reports from inside Tehran suggest Mojtaba may be hospitalized in intensive care at Sina University Hospital in the capital’s historic district. According to a source in Tehran, security forces have sealed off part of the facility while the country’s leader receives treatment.
It remains unclear whether Mojtaba sustained his injuries in the same airstrike that killed his 86-year-old father.
A source who asked not to be identified for safety reasons said Mojtaba is being treated by Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi, Iran’s minister of health and a prominent trauma surgeon.
According to the source, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Mojtaba two days ago and has been kept informed about his condition.
The source relayed the details through encrypted messages to an Iranian dissident living in exile in London.
“One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured. He is apparently in a coma as well.”
With Mojtaba absent from public view for weeks, some observers believe the country’s leadership is currently being handled by regional commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These commanders are reportedly operating under orders to continue military operations indefinitely, even if a central leader cannot actively govern, writes The Daily Mail.