Mojtaba Khamenei narrowly escaped death by seconds, according to a leaked audio recording

Iran’s new supreme leader reportedly survived US and Israeli air strikes after stepping out into his garden just minutes before missiles struck his residence.

According to leaked audio obtained by The Telegraph, Mojtaba Khamenei was the intended target in the same attack that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, along with several senior figures of the Islamic Republic. He had briefly gone outside “to do something” moments before Israeli Blue Sparrow ballistic missiles hit the compound at 9:32am local time on February 28.

The recording captures remarks by Mazaher Hosseini, who described the events to senior clerics and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The audio, which has been independently verified, provides the first detailed account of the strike on the supreme leader’s compound.

Hosseini said Mojtaba sustained a minor leg injury, while his wife and son were killed instantly and his brother-in-law was decapitated. He also described how Mohammad Shirazi, head of Khamenei’s military bureau, was “blown to pieces” in the attack, with only fragments of his remains recovered. The briefing reportedly took place on March 12 in Qolhak.

The compound in Tehran housed multiple family residences and a religious hall where Ali Khamenei held speeches. On the day of the strike, he was meeting senior officials when missiles hit multiple locations within the complex.

Among those killed were IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. Hosseini said the coordinated strikes appeared designed to eliminate the entire Khamenei family, with several parts of the compound hit simultaneously.

He described the missiles as powerful enough to penetrate multiple floors, killing Mojtaba’s brother-in-law Misbah al-Huda Bagheri Kani, while another residence belonging to his brother Mostafa was also struck, though its occupants survived.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the attack or in the 18 days following his reported selection as supreme leader, issuing only a written message read on state television. His absence has fuelled speculation about his condition, including comments by Donald Trump suggesting he may be more seriously injured than acknowledged.

The leaked account also claims Shirazi was specifically targeted due to his key role in military succession planning. Meanwhile, questions persist within Iran’s leadership, with some officials reportedly unaware of Mojtaba’s current condition.

US intelligence assessments had previously suggested Ali Khamenei opposed his son’s succession, reportedly viewing him as unqualified. Critics within Iran have also raised concerns that the transition resembles hereditary rule, contradicting the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.