Mojtaba Khamenei 'pulled from rubble' after US strikes nearly killed him again: Report

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly "pulled from the rubble" of a Tehran hospital after joint US and Israeli strikes struck the medical facility where he was being treated following earlier bombardments.

Earlier, US President Trump addressed the speculations regarding Mojtaba's health. (File Photo/Reuters)According to a report by the New York Post, Mohsen Heydari, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, disclosed this information in an interview with Qatari television network Al Araby on Thursday (local time).

This revelation comes as tensions remain high across the Middle East following the February 28 joint strikes carried out by the US and Israel against Tehran.

In the attack, Iran's then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several other senior officials were killed.

Khamenei was rushed to a Tehran hospital after the February strikes on his father narrowly missed killing him.

To launch the war, the allies obliterated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Tehran compound on February 28, killing the 86-year-old supreme leader and dozens of his top officials. In the days that followed, they reportedly bombed three different hospitals in Tehran as well.

“Even after he (Mojtaba) had been wounded and taken to the hospital, three hospitals in Tehran were bombed,” Mohsen Heydari told Qatari television network Al Araby, according to the New York Post.

"Mojtaba Khamenei was in the third hospital and was pulled from the rubble," Heydari said.

Following this, the 56-year-old vanished to an undisclosed location and has not made a public appearance or been heard from since, the report said.

In the interview, Heidari reportedly called Mojtaba a “man of the shadows”.

Reportedly, Mojtaba was unaware of his March 8 selection until the broadcast aired on state television. But once the decision was made, he was "legally and religiously" bound to accept it, the official said.

The Assembly of Experts was the body mandated with choosing Iran's new supreme leader.

It was reportedly a target of the US and Israel strikes, the New York Post report added.

Following the initial strikes, the members wrote their vote on paper before being summoned to an undisclosed location, without prior awareness of the agenda. Mojtaba got 50 of 59 votes during the meeting.

"We obtained information that Mojtaba Khamenei was healthy and able to lead, and we determined that he met the requirements of religious qualification, justice and competence to manage the country," Heydari was further quoted as saying in the report.

These revelations follow months of speculation over Mojtaba's health.

Earlier in August, while speaking in an interview with US commentator Glenn Beck, US President Trump addressed the speculations regarding Mojtaba's health.

Trump had noted, "I don't think he’s dead."

"He was very seriously wounded. The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing. He was very seriously wounded, but I don’t think he's dead," the US President added.

Anushka Awasthi is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she covers politics, geopolitics, and major national and international developments. She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi. Passionate about India's political landscape, Anushka believes that politics shapes every aspect of society, from public policy to everyday life. This drives her to deliver timely, accurate, and researched news that helps readers make sense of everyday developments. Before joining Hindustan Times, Anushka worked with the Zee News English website, reporting extensively on Indian politics and international affairs. During her tenure, she also wrote a range of interviews and analytical stories, focusing on key political and international affairs events. Her reporting is driven by a strong interest in journalism and a dedication to balanced reporting. She strives to present news with clarity and context in the digital era. She aims to ensure that readers stay informed about issues that matter. Outside the newsroom, she enjoys planning her next travel adventure to various corners of India, reading classical books, and binging sitcoms. A coffee enthusiast, she is always on the lookout for new places and experiences.Read More