The Islamic Republic of Iran has been engulfed with further political omen after it was revealed that the country’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was seriously injured in an airstrike.
The 56-year-old, the son of the late defiant Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has not been seen since becoming Supreme Leader on Monday. His father and wife both were killed in an US-Israeli airstrike February 28 that started the war.
Sources according to UK Sun said that Mojtaba Khamenei lost at least one leg and has also suffered serious stomach or liver damage.
“One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured. He is apparently in a coma as well”, the source said.
Though, it was unclear whether he was injured on the same day his 86-year-old father died but he is not directing the strategy currently sparking energy market turmoil.
This medium understand that he remains in intensive care at the Sina University Hospital in Tehran’s historic quarter, with a section of the hospital sealed off and surrounded by security operatives.
On Thursday afternoon, he released his first written statement since taking over from his deceased dad.
He said: “I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs.
“The revenge we are considering is not only related to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case.”
He promised to avenge the victims of the American Tomahawk strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school that killed 175 children.
He added: “Of course, a limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will continue to be on top of other cases, and we will be especially sensitive to the blood of our children and grandchildren.”
While speaking of seeing his dead father, he said: “I had the opportunity to visit his body after his martyrdom; what I saw was a mountain of strength and I heard that his healthy hand was clenched in a fist.
“Those who know him will have to say a lot about the various aspects of his personality.”
Meanwhile, many foreign nationals have been getting out of the Persian Gulf region since the war began, including over 45,000 UK citizens, the UK Foreign Office said.
Some 40,000 people returned to the United States, according to the American state department.
In addition to the nearly 500 people killed in Lebanon, Iran has said more than 1,300 people have been killed there and Israel has reported 12 people dead.
The US has lost seven soldiers while another eight have suffered severe injuries.
