Iran's New Leader Recovers from Airstrike Injuries in Peace Talks

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is recovering from severe facial and leg injuries sustained in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28 that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sources close to his inner circle said. The 56-year-old leader, who has not appeared in public since the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran, remains mentally sharp and is actively involved in key decisions, including ongoing peace negotiations with the United States.

Three individuals familiar with Khamenei's condition, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, described the injuries as disfiguring to his face and significant to one or both legs. Khamenei also lost several family members in the strike, including his wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Despite the wounds, he participates in meetings with senior officials through audio conferencing and weighs in on major issues such as the war and talks with Washington, two of the sources added. Iranian state television has referred to him as a "janbaz," a term denoting someone gravely wounded in conflict, following his appointment as supreme leader on March 8.