A leaked audio recording has revealed dramatic new details about how Mojtaba Khamenei narrowly escaped a deadly US-Israeli strike that killed his father, late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several members of his family.
According to the recording, obtained by The Telegraph (UK), Mojtaba survived the attack after stepping out of the Tehran compound just minutes before missiles struck the site.
“He stepped out of the compound, and that's how he survived,” Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in Ali Khamenei's office, can be heard as saying during a March 12 private meeting in Tehran, the audio of which was leaked, as per the report.
How did Mojtaba escape?
The strike, which reportedly hit the compound at around 9:30 am, was described as a precisely timed operation targeting Iran's top leadership. Moments before impact, Mojtaba had stepped into the garden and was heading back inside when the missiles hit, according to the leaked account.
Hosseini is heard saying in the recording, “God's will was that Mojtaba had to go out to the yard to do something and then return.”
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Casualties and destruction
The attack is said to have killed Mojtaba's wife and child, along with other senior figures and family members. Reports suggest he escaped with only a minor leg injury, though accounts of his condition remain conflicting.
Three missiles were reportedly fired at the compound, one targeting the area where Ali Khamenei was located, another hitting Mojtaba's residence, and a third striking a nearby family residence.
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Questions over his condition
Despite claims from Iranian officials that Mojtaba is alive and in charge, he has not made a public appearance since the strike. This has fuelled speculation about his condition.
US President Donald Trump added to the uncertainty, saying, “Nobody has seen him, which is unusual,” raising doubts over the new leader's status.
Mojtaba's first remarks after assuming leadership were reportedly delivered via a television presenter, rather than in person.
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