Iran officially reveals  details of  Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's injury

Iran's Health Ministry spokesman dispelled speculation  about the health condition of Iranian leader  Mojtaba Khamenei, speaking of "superficial injuries" suffered by the latter at the beginning of the war, contrary to previous media reports.

"Supreme  Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei suffered only 'superficial' injuries at the start of the war in late February," spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said.

Kermanpour gave details about the day of Mojtaba Khamenei's injury, explaining that he "arrived at the hospital on February 28, parallel to the first day of the US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic, at around 1 p.m. Tehran time, and "entered the operating room with a number of other wounded."

"Except for superficial injuries to the face, head and legs, which did not require amputation or any other medical problem, nothing serious happened," Kermanpour was quoted as saying by the Iranian Workers' News Agency (ILNA).

"From my point of view as a doctor, these injuries were not considered serious and did not require any special procedures except for one or two stitches," he said,  noting that Mojtaba Khamenei, who was fasting during the month of Ramadan, "refused to break his fast and continued to fast, which indicates his good health."

Kermanpour said the Supreme Leader left the hospital at around 2 a.m. on March 1, without specifying where he had been taken.

Contradictory Narratives

These statements are in stark contrast to long-standing Western reports, which were said to be based on intelligence information about the 56-year-old man's health, especially since he has not appeared in public since the attack, not even at his inauguration ceremony as Supreme Leader on March 7, and his statements were limited to written statements, fueling speculation about his health condition.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in March that Mojtaba Khamenei was likely "wounded" and "mutilated."

In April, Reuters, citing sources close to Iran's new leader, reported that the latter "may be" seriously injured,  that his "face was deformed" and that he had "severe injuries in one or both legs." Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters at the time that Khamenei had been taking part in the meetings, but was still recovering from his injuries.

The New York Times, citing Iranian government officials, later confirmed that Khamenei had suffered "serious injuries," and wrote that one of his legs had undergone several surgeries, and that he "also suffered injuries to one of his hands and severe burns to his face."

 The newspaper reported that President Masoud Bezshkian, a former heart surgeon, had been supervising Khamenei's medical care for a while himself, and in the interest of his health and safety, "Khamenei temporarily delegated some decision-making powers to the IRGC generals."

The British newspaper The Times, citing intelligence sources, reported that Khamenei was "receiving medical treatment in the city of Qom, and that he was temporarily unable to exercise his administrative duties."

Tehran denies

Iranian officials, on the other hand, have repeatedly denied the reports. On May 7, Iranian President Masoud Bezshakian said he had met with the Supreme Leader and that their meeting lasted two and a half hours.

Three days later, Iranian state television reported that the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya, the Central Operations Room of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ali Abdollah Aliabadi, met with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who provided "new directions and guidelines for the continuation of operations to confront the enemy," a reference to the Supreme Leader's ability to exercise his leadership functions