Iran’s new Supreme Leader was announced Sunday morning, and by afternoon his own state TV confirmed he had already been wounded in the war

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was reportedly wounded in the ongoing conflict just hours after his succession was announced on Sunday. Iran’s state TV confirmed he had been injured by the enemy in what they are calling the “Ramadan war.” They did not share details about where or when this happened, but referred to him as “janbaz,” a term for someone wounded by the enemy.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the recently killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was sworn in as the new head of the regime earlier that day. Officials in Israel reportedly believe Mojtaba survived an assassination attempt earlier this week, walking away with injuries during “Operation Epic Fury.”

According to The Sun, mere hours after his appointment, Iran launched its first missile strikes under the new leader, targeting Israel. A picture shared by Iran’s state broadcaster on Telegram showed a projectile marked with the words: “At Your Service, Sayyid Mojtaba.”

Trump’s dismissal and Israel’s threats signal that Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership faces serious danger from the very start

President Trump, who had previously called Mojtaba a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable choice,” stated that the new leader “is not going to last long” after Iran appeared to defy his demands. Trump has been making several bold moves on the political front lately, and his administration’s battles with federal judges show just how far he is willing to push back against those who challenge his authority. 

Israel’s Defence Forces confirmed the missile launches, saying their defensive systems were working to intercept the threat. Israel had already pledged to assassinate any successor to the previous leader, who was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on X that “Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime… will be an unequivocal target for elimination.”

Mojtaba has not made any public appearances or statements since his election. He was chosen by the “Assembly of Experts,” a group of 88 powerful clerics. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly declared their “full obedience” and loyalty, describing him as “the fully qualified jurist, the young thinker and the most knowledgeable in political and social matters” in a statement aired on state TV.

Mojtaba has long been a significant figure behind the scenes, known for his close ties to the IRGC and Iran’s security apparatus. He is reportedly an anti-Western hardliner who has advocated for developing nuclear bombs. He is also believed to have a “bleak human rights record,” having helped suppress domestic protests and having served in the Iran-Iraq War.

The conflict continues across the Gulf states despite the leadership change. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring countries for Tehran’s strikes since the United States and Israel launched their military offensive. 

Adding further tension, American soldiers reportedly held by Iranian forces has become another flashpoint in the broader conflict. On Monday morning, Bahrain reported a drone attack that injured 32 civilians, including a two-month-old child, marking the highest number of casualties in a single strike on the Gulf states since the war began.