A leaked audio obtained by The Telegraph has revealed that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, survived United States and Israeli air strikes by mere seconds after stepping into his garden minutes before missiles struck his residence.
The recording, which has been independently verified, captures remarks by Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol for Ali Khamenei’s office, delivered to senior clerics and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reports The Telegraph.
It is the first detailed account of the strike on the supreme leader’s compound on the morning of 28 February, at around 09:32 local time, when a missile barrage killed his father and other senior figures in the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
According to Hosseini, Mojtaba was in his garden and heading indoors when the attack occurred. The audio suggests that the assault was intended to eliminate the Khamenei leadership in its entirety.
Hosseini said that Mojtaba’s leg was injured during the missile strike, while his wife and son were killed instantly, and his brother‑in‑law was decapitated.
The compound in Tehran where Mojtaba lived also contained a religious hall used by Ali Khamenei for speeches, along with homes of other members of the supreme leader’s family.
At the time of the attack, Ali Khamenei and senior security officials were attending a meeting within the complex.
Hosseini said, “God’s will was that Mojtaba had to go out to the yard to do something and then return. He was outside and was heading upstairs when they struck the building with a missile. His wife, Haddad, was martyred instantly.”
Hosseini added that Mojtaba received only “a minor injury to his leg”. “These devils had considered several locations within the office complex to strike – one of them was the place of the supreme leader,” Hosseini said. “They hit that location with three missiles.”
The audio also noted that Mostafa Khamenei and his wife were in a nearby residence that was also hit by missiles. “Thank God some dust and rubble fell over, but they came out unharmed,” Hosseini said.
None of Ali Khamenei’s other children have been seen publicly since the strikes, nor have they issued congratulations or pledges of allegiance following Mojtaba’s selection as supreme leader.
Mojtaba himself has not been seen since the outbreak of war or in the 18 days since his elevation. His only communication with the nation was a written message read out on state television, fuelling speculation including from Donald Trump that he may be more seriously injured than Iranian officials have acknowledged.
