'Jaanbaz Of Ramadan': Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Injured In US-Israel Strikes?

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 15:08 IST

Iranian media indicated that Mojtaba did not attend the ceremony where his leadership was announced, instead sending a photograph that was displayed during the event.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to have been injured during recent US-Israeli airstrikes amid the ongoing regional conflict, according to top Indian intelligence sources. Iranian state television has referred to him as the “Jaanbaz of Ramadan," a phrase typically used to describe someone wounded while serving the nation, suggesting the regime may be crafting a narrative of sacrifice around the new leader.

Mojtaba’s elevation comes days after the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes at the start of the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States. His succession was confirmed by Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, marking the first time leadership of the Islamic Republic has passed directly from father to son.

The appointment has sparked debate among analysts and intelligence agencies about whether Iran is shifting toward an overtly hereditary model of power. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country’s system was designed to avoid dynastic rule, with the Supreme Leader traditionally chosen from among senior clerics rather than family members.

According to Indian intelligence officials, the Iranian establishment’s use of the “wounded leader" narrative could help justify Mojtaba’s rapid elevation following his father’s death, while also attempting to build public legitimacy at a time when constitutional procedures and clerical consensus appear to have been sidelined.

Iranian media also indicated that Mojtaba did not attend the ceremony where his leadership was announced, instead sending a photograph that was displayed during the event — further fuelling speculation about the extent of his injuries.

However, Mojtaba’s rise is unlikely to end internal power struggles within Iran’s political elite. CNN-News18 had reported earlier that tensions were emerging between the new leader and senior conservative figure Ali Larijani, who has long been viewed as a key power broker within the system.

Larijani, a former parliament speaker and influential strategist within Iran’s security establishment, was among the prominent figures considered a potential successor during the leadership crisis that followed Ali Khamenei’s assassination.

Intelligence sources say these rival factions could continue to shape Iran’s internal politics even after Mojtaba’s appointment. Some reports also point to friction between Larijani’s camp and figures aligned with Mojtaba within the security establishment.

With Iran now facing external military pressure and internal political maneuvering, Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership begins under extraordinary circumstances — and could mark the start of a new phase in the Islamic Republic’s evolving power structure.

News world 'Jaanbaz Of Ramadan': Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Injured In US-Israel Strikes?

Read More