TEHRAN May 9, 2026 — An Iranian official has stated that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered back injuries after being thrown down stairs during a U.S. airstrike earlier this year but is now in “perfect health,” according to a report circulating on social media and picked up by regional outlets.
The claim, first highlighted by the account BRICS News on X (formerly Twitter) late Friday, includes a recent portrait photo of Khamenei appearing composed and uninjured. It comes amid persistent rumors and Western intelligence assessments questioning the 56-year-old leader’s physical condition and public absence since his rapid ascension to power.
The official’s statement appears aimed at quelling speculation fueled by earlier reports. Multiple credible sources, including The New York Times, Reuters, and The Guardian, previously detailed that Khamenei sustained significant injuries — including leg wounds, a fractured foot, facial burns, and lacerations — in the Feb. 28, 2026, joint U.S.-Israeli strike on his father’s compound in Tehran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several family members.
Some accounts, citing Iranian insiders and U.S. intelligence, described the injuries as severe enough to require surgery, possible prosthetic intervention, and remote leadership from a secure location. Mojtaba Khamenei was formally named Supreme Leader in early March 2026 but has made no public appearances or direct broadcasts since, prompting widespread skepticism and memes across social platforms.
The latest assertion reframes the incident as relatively minor — limited to back injuries from a fall down stairs — while insisting the leader is fully recovered and actively managing state affairs. Critics on X immediately dismissed the claim, with users demanding verifiable recent footage or appearances rather than statements or potentially edited images.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have previously described Khamenei as “wounded and likely disfigured,” while Iranian state media has consistently portrayed him as in control.
The development unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing regional conflict, including a Strait of Hormuz blockade and fragile ceasefire talks between Iran, the U.S., and Israel. No independent verification of the official’s exact remarks or Khamenei’s current condition was immediately available, and Western intelligence continues to monitor his role in wartime strategy from behind the scenes.
Iranian authorities have not issued an official statement on the matter as of Saturday morning. Further updates are expected as diplomatic and military developments in the region continue to evolve.
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