Tehran, March 11: Yousef Pezeshkian, son of the Iranian President, has confirmed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “safe and sound,” following reports claiming he was injured during ongoing strikes by the US and Israel, according to Al Jazeera.
In a message on the messaging app Telegram, Pezeshkian said, “I heard news about Mr. Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who had contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem.”
Earlier, The New York Times had reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was allegedly wounded and had avoided public appearances due to security concerns. The report cited three Iranian sources who said senior officials informed them that Khamenei was injured during the first day of the Israeli operation on February 28.
Meanwhile, on Day 12 of the West Asia conflict, a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire onboard and prompting the crew to evacuate and request assistance, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Iran has previously threatened to block the flow of oil through the strait amid the conflict with the US and Israel.
Following the incident, US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, urging the removal of any mines from the Strait of Hormuz and threatening unprecedented military consequences if they were not removed. He stated:
“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently.”
In New York, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.
“They are deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes. Densely populated residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure are deliberately targeted. So far, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 civilians and destroyed 9,669 civilian sites, including 7,943 residential homes, 1,617 commercial and service centers, 32 medical and pharmaceutical facilities, 65 schools, 13 Red Cross buildings, and several energy supply facilities,” he said.
The Iranian envoy called on the UN to act, warning that the same fate could befall other nations if the conflict goes unchecked.
“It is deeply regrettable that the Security Council continues to remain silent. The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation, despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. Some Council members are attempting to reverse the roles of victims and aggressors. Today it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state. The international community must act now to stop this bloody war against the Iranian people,” he added.
Wednesday marks the 12th day of the West Asia conflict, with both sides hardening their positions even as civilian lives and fuel supplies continue to suffer. (Agency)