Iran Downplays Mojtaba Khamenei's Injuries, Claims Only 'Scratch Behind Ear' Amid Surgery Reports

Iranian authorities have publicly dismissed widespread reports regarding the health condition of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming he suffered only a “small scratch behind the ear” despite international media reports alleging severe injuries and multiple surgeries. In its first detailed response to growing speculation, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency stated on Tuesday that Khamenei was “in full health” and recovering well from minor wounds.

According to the agency, officials said the Supreme Leader’s reported back and kneecap injuries were improving and denied claims that he faced long-term disability or amputation. Mazaher Hosseini, director general of protocol at the Supreme Leader’s office, reportedly stated that Khamenei only sustained a “small crack behind the ear.” Iranian authorities also accused foreign media and political opponents of spreading misinformation regarding the leader’s medical condition and urged the public to remain patient until he appears publicly.

The latest comments come after reports from international publications, including The New York Times and The Telegraph, claimed that Khamenei had suffered serious injuries during a missile strike on his residence earlier this year. Those reports alleged he underwent multiple surgeries on one leg, faced severe burns to his face and lips, and could require plastic surgery and a prosthetic limb. The reports further claimed that he narrowly escaped death after Israeli missiles struck his residence on February 28.

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Iranian officials have strongly rejected those accounts. Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Public Relations and Information Center at Iran’s Health Ministry, said “nothing serious happened” to Khamenei and insisted that the injuries would not result in facial disfigurement, disability, or limb loss. He confirmed that stitches had been applied to several wounds, including one on Khamenei’s leg, but maintained that his overall condition remained stable and healthy.

The controversy surrounding Khamenei’s health has intensified because he has not appeared publicly since assuming leadership following the reported killing of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei during the early stages of the conflict. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently stated that he met Khamenei at an undisclosed location and praised his “vision” and leadership, though no photographs or public appearances accompanied the statement.

The conflicting narratives have fueled intense speculation both inside and outside Iran regarding the country’s political stability and leadership structure during a period of heightened regional tensions. While Iranian authorities continue to insist that the Supreme Leader remains healthy and fully capable of governing, international attention remains focused on the absence of public appearances and the secrecy surrounding his condition. The matter has become one of the most closely watched political developments in the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Israel.

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