There has been no official Iranian statement on the extent of Khamenei's injuries. However, a newsreader on state television described him as a "janbaz", a term used for those badly wounded in war, after he was named supreme leader. Iran's first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, enjoyed unquestioned authority as the charismatic leader of the revolution and the most learned cleric of his day. Iran's U.N. mission didn't respond to questions about the power wielded by the Guards and the new supreme leader. Public statements of policy on Iran's war stance, its approach towards diplomacy, neighbours, ceasefire negotiations and domestic unrest, have been made by other senior officials.

Source: The Standard April 11, 2026 21:25 UTC