Israeli media: Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei secretly flown to Moscow for treatment

2026-03-16 - 10:02

Israeli media reported Sunday that Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, injured in the initial US-Israeli strike that killed his father on Feb. 28, was secretly flown to Moscow on a Russian military plane for medical treatment. According to i24News citing a senior source close to Khamenei who spoke to Kuwaiti media, the Iranian leader underwent successful surgery after being transported to Moscow on Thursday. No public appearances Khamenei has not appeared publicly in the 16 days since the strike that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and launched the current war. His only statement came on the 13th day of the conflict, broadcast through state television, though reports claim the address was actually written by National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani rather than Khamenei himself. Confirmation of injury Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei had previously confirmed that the new leader was "injured but well," providing the only official acknowledgment of his condition. However, the lack of public appearances has fueled widespread speculation, including from US President Donald Trump, who said: "I don't know if he's alive or not. No one has been able to show him so far. I've heard he's not alive. If he is alive, he should make a very smart move for his country and surrender." Conflict context The US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its 17th day, has killed over 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolgirls. The reported secret transfer of Iran's new leader to Moscow for treatment, if confirmed, would represent a significant development in the conflict, potentially affecting Iran's leadership continuity and decision-making capacity. Russian involvement The alleged use of a Russian military aircraft to transport Khamenei would mark a deepening of Moscow's involvement in the crisis, as Russia has maintained ties with Tehran while also engaging diplomatically with other regional actors. Russian officials have not commented on the reports.