Mojtaba Khamenei ‘pulled from the rubble’ after Tehran hospital was bombed, cleric claims - The Indian Express

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was pulled from the rubble of a Tehran hospital after US and Israeli strikes hit the building, the New York Post reported, citing the Qatari channel Al Araby, which interviewed a senior Iranian cleric.

Mohsen Heydari, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, made the claim in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Araby on Thursday. He said Khamenei had been wounded in earlier attacks and taken to hospital, which was then bombed along with two others in Tehran. The New York Post reported that the hospitals were hit in the days after the war began on 28 February.

Khamenei, 56, was later moved to an undisclosed location and has not been seen or heard in public since. The US, Israel and the Iranian government have not confirmed the account.

Heydari did not give a date, according to the reports. The New York Post said the three hospitals were bombed “at some time in the days that followed” the opening strikes on 28 February, and it described the account as reported, not confirmed.

That day, US and Israeli strikes hit the Tehran compound of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killing the 86-year-old supreme leader and dozens of top officials. Mojtaba Khamenei is reported to have been wounded in those first strikes.

Heydari told Al Araby that Khamenei was wounded in earlier attacks and taken to hospital, but that the strikes did not stop there. Three hospitals in Tehran were bombed, he said, and the leader was inside the last one.

“Mojtaba Khamenei was in the third hospital and was pulled from the rubble,” Heydari said, according to the New York Post.

The paper reported that Khamenei was later moved to an undisclosed location. He has not appeared in public or spoken publicly since.

Heydari also described the vote that named Khamenei leader on 8 March, held while the country was under attack. He said Khamenei appeared not to know he had been chosen until the announcement was read out on Iranian state television.

The Assembly of Experts, which is responsible for choosing the supreme leader, was itself hit, the New York Post reported. Its secretariat in Qom was bombed, killing eight people and destroying reports and recommendations linked to the selection.

With the body under fire, Heydari said members wrote their votes on paper before being called to a secret room to decide. He said he was the first to put forward Khamenei’s name.

Members had been told that Khamenei was healthy enough to lead and met the religious and leadership requirements, Heydari said. Khamenei won 50 of the 59 votes. Eight members backed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, and one abstained.

Heydari described Khamenei as a “man of the shadows”. Khamenei held no formal political post in the Iranian state before taking the top role, though he reportedly advised his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The public record on Khamenei’s health is thin, and the accounts pull in different directions.US intelligence assessments suggest he suffered severe facial injuries in the strikes. Last month, US President Donald Trump told commentator Glenn Beck he believes Khamenei is alive but badly wounded.

“I don’t think he’s dead,” Trump said, adding that the left side of Khamenei’s body was seriously hurt.

Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has told a different story. In an interview with Fox News this week, he said Khamenei is “completely” healthy. Pezeshkian said the two men met for about seven hours last month and held talks.

Khamenei’s location is unknown. No independent source has confirmed either Heydari’s account of the hospital strike or the state of his health. The gap between the cleric’s version, the US intelligence assessment and the Iranian president’s statement leaves one question hanging over Tehran: who is running Iran, and in what condition?

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More