Mojtaba Khamenei pulled from Tehran hospital rubble after US-Israeli strikes

Reports have surfaced that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was pulled from the rubble of a Tehran hospital following joint US and Israeli strikes, a claim that adds new uncertainty to his condition amid an escalating regional conflict.

The latest account regarding the Supreme Leader's health originated from an interview given by Mohsen Heydari, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, to Qatar-based television network Al Araby, as reported by outlets such as the Hindustan Times and Bhaskar English. According to Heydari, Khamenei was initially wounded during the February 28 attacks that destroyed his father's compound and was subsequently hospitalized. Heydari claimed that three hospitals in Tehran were targeted in subsequent bombings, with Khamenei being rescued from the debris of the third facility.

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These developments compound months of conflicting statements concerning the 56-year-old leader's whereabouts and medical condition. While Iranian officials have offered varied accounts, US President Donald Trump stated in August that he believed Khamenei was alive despite sustaining severe injuries to his left arm, leg, and overall body, according to reporting by Hindustan Times. The hospital rescue claim itself has not been independently verified.

The broader conflict has intensified across multiple fronts, with the US military carrying out consecutive nights of airstrikes, as detailed by coverage from BBC News and DW. Central Command reported strikes targeting Iranian surveillance sites, logistics infrastructure, and weapons storage. In retaliation, regional capitals and infrastructure have faced drone and missile attacks, prompting severe condemnation from the Gulf Cooperation Council regarding strikes on civilian sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

According to Heydari's disclosed account of the leadership transition, the Assembly of Experts' Qom Secretariat was bombed, killing several people and destroying documents connected with the leadership selection process. Members subsequently used written ballots in a secret meeting to select the new Supreme Leader. Heydari stated that Mojtaba Khamenei received 50 of 59 votes, while Ayatollah Alireza Arafi received eight votes, with one member abstaining. The official further claimed that Khamenei was unaware of his selection until it was broadcast on state television.

The military escalation has continued to reverberate across the wider region. Kuwait reported attacks on a power plant, water desalination plant, and an oil facility over consecutive days. Meanwhile, Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Iran's charge d'affaires in Amman over what it called unjustified Iranian attacks and provocative statements targeting the Kingdom's territory, following reports that Jordanian forces intercepted missiles.

US Central Command announced that two US service members died in Jordan as US and partner forces defended against Iranian drone and missile attacks, with additional personnel injured and medically evacuated. The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported that it was investigating an attack on Iran's planned Darkhovin nuclear power plant, which was in the early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material.

As the situation develops, international observers are closely tracking several key factors:

• Whether independent verification of the hospital strike and Mojtaba Khamenei's current physical condition will emerge from Tehran.
• The trajectory of US and allied military operations as CENTCOM continues its campaign against Iranian infrastructure.
• The diplomatic and security responses from Gulf nations and regional bodies following sustained missile and drone attacks.
• Potential shifts in regional stability as diplomatic efforts stall and retaliatory cycles persist.