Mojtaba Khamenei Was in Bombed Building But Escaped Minutes Before Strike, Iranian Official Confirms
Iran has confirmed that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was present in a building that was struck during the ongoing conflict, but narrowly survived after stepping into a courtyard just minutes before the airstrike destroyed it. Ayatollah Mohsen Qomi, Member of the Assembly of Experts and Deputy for International Affairs in the office of the Supreme Leader, dismissed circulating health rumours and insisted Khamenei remains in good health, Fars News Agency reported on Friday (May 1).
The Strike and the Narrow Escape
Confirming the incident tied to the conflict that began on February 28, Qomi stated that Mojtaba Khamenei had been inside the targeted building at the time of the bombing a building where others lost their lives.
“He was in that very building that was bombed, where others were martyred. Just minutes before the explosion, by God’s will he had gone into the courtyard. God wanted him to be preserved,” Qomi said.
Qomi went on to assert that Khamenei is actively engaged in state affairs despite the circumstances. “Currently, he is in perfect health and is actively managing affairs. He oversees matters related to negotiations and field operations with his direct supervision. Recently, he even gave specific instructions to the negotiating team regarding what actions to take under various conditions. He has full command over the situation,” he added.
Iran Dismisses Western Speculation as ‘Enemy Tactics’
Qomi squarely rejected US claims and Western speculation about Khamenei’s health, characterising them as deliberate pressure tactics designed to provoke a reaction from Tehran.
“Some people ask about the health status of His Eminence the Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei. This is a trick used by the enemy, who wants to say, ‘Why is he not present? Why doesn’t he send an audio or video message? Why don’t the people who have visited him come forward and speak?’ They want to use these questions to force us into reacting, so they can achieve their goals,” he said.
In remarks that may be read as an implicit acknowledgement of injuries sustained in the strike, Qomi added that preserving Khamenei’s life had become the foremost priority for Iranian officials.
“Right now, the most important issue for us is to help preserve the life of His Eminence the Leader, who is currently the Proof of God on earth. And I assure you that despite the injuries he sustained there, Almighty God preserved him as a treasure for the Shia,” he said.