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Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is rumoured to be in Moscow, undergoing emergency surgery on a wounded leg.
Mojtaba succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after he was killed during the first wave of US and Israeli strikes against Iran two weeks ago.
Since his appointment last week, there have been suggestions that Mojtaba was also wounded severely in the strikes—and that he is, in fact, dead. He was replaced by a cardboard cut out at the official allegiance ceremony announcing his appointment.
In an interview on Friday, President Trump described Mojtaba as “damaged… but probably alive in some form.”
Now Arab news outlets are reporting that he is in Russia for an operation “personally offered by Putin,” who is a close ally of Iran.
According to The Daily Mail, “The mission to sneak the new Ayatollah out of the country was intended to be top secret and involved him boarding a Russian military aircraft.
“He then headed to one of Putin’s presidential palaces where he underwent ‘successful’ surgery.
“The report remains unconfirmed, but Al-Jarida claims it received its information from a ‘high-ranking source close to the new Iranian Supreme Leader.’”
Britain’s Sun newspaper is reporting that one or both of Mojtaba’s legs were “cut off” and “his liver or stomach has also ruptured.
“He is apparently in a coma as well.”
At present, Iran has only confirmed that Mojtaba is “wounded.”
An Iranian official told another British newspaper, “No one knows anything about Mojtaba, whether he is alive or dead or how badly injured.
“We are all just told that he’s injured. He has no control over the war because he is not here. The majority of commanders, or more correctly, all commanders, have no news about him.”
Over the weekend, President Trump said other nations would join the US in providing escorts for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” the President wrote on Truth Social.
He said that although the US has “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability… it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”
He called on a number of other nations to involve themselves in patrols.
“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.”
Trump then vowed to continue “bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water.”
“One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”
In second post on Truth Social, President Trump reiterated his calls for joint patrols, and also said that “team effort” will “bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace!”
During an interview with Sky News on Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said preparations are underway to provide escorts and that other nations may play a role in them.
“My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through,” Bessent said.
“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese flag tankers have come through. So we know that they have not mined the straits,” he continued.
It was reported that Bessent was forced to take a two-hour break from the interview after being called into the White House situation room.
When he returned, he was asked if escorts had been discussed.
“Your words, not mine,” he responded.
