Iranian mourners stand in front of a portrait of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a funeral for Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Paramilitary Basij Forces, and the crew of the sunken IRIS Dena warship in Tehran, Iran, on 18 March.

• Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded in the same US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei.
• Mojtaba has severe injuries, including multiple leg surgeries, hand surgery, and severe facial burns that make speaking difficult.
• Due to his condition, Mojtaba has delegated decision-making authority to Revolutionary Guards generals who are now handling military strategy, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was seriously wounded in the US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, but is mentally sharp, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Citing several Iranian officials which it did not name, the Times said Mojtaba Khamenei had “at least for now” delegated decision-making to generals in the Revolutionary Guards ideological army.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since succeeding his father and only issued written statements, creating speculation over his condition and if he is still alive.

Although Mojtaba Khamenei was “gravely wounded (in the February 28 airstrike), he is mentally sharp and engaged,” said the NYT.

“One leg was operated on three times, and he is awaiting a prosthetic. He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak,” it cited the officials as saying, adding that “eventually, he will need plastic surgery.”

READ | Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is alive and favoured to succeed him as Iran leader

Access for security reasons is extremely limited to Khamenei, who remains in hiding, with only handwritten messages passed on, it said.

Guards commanders do not visit him but President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, has been involved in his care, it said.

It said the generals from the Guards who viewed the war with the US and Israel “as a threat to the regime’s survival” that has now been contained.

They have also been in charge of military strategy, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.