Iran's recently appointed head suffers severe injuries, yet remains intellectually alert, according to reports

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's newly appointed supreme leader, suffered severe injuries in the US-Israeli airstrike that claimed the life of his father, Ali Khamenei, but his mental faculties remain intact, according to a report by the New York Times on Thursday.

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The New York Times cited unnamed Iranian officials, stating that Mojtaba Khamenei has temporarily relinquished decision-making authority to high-ranking generals within the Revolutionary Guards' ideological army.

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Since assuming the role of supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained a low profile, refraining from public appearances and instead issuing written statements, which has sparked speculation about his condition and whether he is still alive.

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Despite being "gravely wounded" in the February 28 airstrike, Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly "mentally sharp and engaged," with the New York Times citing officials who described the extent of his injuries.

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According to these officials, Mojtaba Khamenei underwent multiple surgeries on one leg and is awaiting a prosthetic, while also receiving treatment for a surgically repaired hand, and suffering from severe burns to his face and lips that hinder his ability to speak.

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Additionally, the officials noted that Mojtaba Khamenei will eventually require plastic surgery to address the burns, and currently, his access is heavily restricted due to security concerns, with only handwritten messages being passed on.

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While Guards commanders are not permitted to visit Mojtaba Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon, has been involved in his medical care, highlighting the sensitive nature of the supreme leader's condition.

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The generals from the Revolutionary Guards, who view the conflict with the US and Israel as an existential threat to the regime, have been entrusted with overseeing military strategy, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.