Iran's New Supreme Leader Mujtaba Undergoing Treatment in Moscow? Russian Side: No Comment

Why did AI Mujeh Tab choose treatment in Russia rather than Iran?

【Text / Observer Network Qi Qian】

Since being announced as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, 57-year-old Mujeh Tab Hameini has not made any public appearances.

Amid widespread speculation about Mujeh Tab’s health, on March 15, Kuwaiti media Al-Jarida reported that a source revealed Mujeh Tab was transferred to Moscow by Russian military aircraft due to health and security concerns. It is said that upon arrival, he underwent a “successful” surgical operation and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital inside the Moscow presidential residence.

On the 16th, when asked about “Mujeh Tab receiving treatment in Russia,” Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov declined to comment.

A high-level source close to Mujeh Tab told Al-Jarida that he was injured in the “first wave of airstrikes” by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28. His injuries require comprehensive hospital care, precise medical monitoring, and special surveillance, which are difficult to provide amid Iran’s ongoing intense bombings.

The source further explained that Iranian security agencies were concerned that Mujeh Tab’s location could be leaked by doctors and medical experts, so they agreed to send him to Russia for treatment.

According to the source, Russian President Putin personally proposed during a phone call with Iranian President Pahlavi on March 6 that Mujeh Tab be treated in Russia. Iranian officials and Mujeh Tab himself seriously discussed this proposal and ultimately agreed. That evening, Mujeh Tab was transferred, and he is now being treated by Russian doctors along with several Iranian doctors accompanying him.

Additionally, the report cites information from Iran and Israel.

An Iranian source said there is public opinion that Mujeh Tab’s first public speech was actually written by Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, as the content closely matches his previous public statements.

An Israeli intelligence source revealed that Israel believes Mujeh Tab’s injuries may be more severe than initially estimated, and added that Tel Aviv has not yet obtained definitive evidence that he has left Iran.

According to TASS, Russia’s state news agency, at a press conference on the 16th, Peskov refused to comment on the rumors of “Mujeh Tab arriving in Moscow for treatment,” stating, “We do not comment on such reports.”

Mujeh Tab Portrait, Oriental IC

On the evening of March 8 local time, Iran’s expert council issued a statement announcing the appointment of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mujeh Tab Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On the 12th, Mujeh Tab delivered his first speech since taking office, calling for national unity and emphasizing that Iran should continue to “close” the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran’s enemies. Western media noted that Mujeh Tab’s first statement was read by a news anchor, with no appearance by him personally, and Iran’s state television did not explain this.

Due to his continued absence from public view, speculation about Mujeh Tab’s health has been rampant.

Al-Jarida previously reported on the 4th that Mujeh Tab was injured in the US-Israel airstrikes, with injuries from head to foot on the left side of his body. It was said that debris from the building fell near him rather than directly hitting him, so he escaped unscathed.

The UK’s The Sun quoted sources claiming Mujeh Tab has lost at least one leg, and his stomach or liver was seriously damaged, with his condition described as “very severe.” However, The Sun noted they could not verify the accuracy of this information.

Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Salarian, confirmed Mujeh Tab’s injuries on the 11th. In an interview with The Guardian, he said Mujeh Tab was a “survivor” of the first US-Israel airstrikes, with injuries to his legs, hands, arms, and bruising around his eyes.

On the 13th, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. had learned that Khamenei was injured and was “likely disfigured.” In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi on the 14th stated that Mujeh Tab’s health was “not an issue.”

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