A leaked audio recording has revealed the dramatic moment Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader narrowly avoided death. Mojtaba Khamenei stepped outside his father’s compound just minutes before a US-Israeli strike reduced the building to rubble. The attack killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his wife, son, and several other senior Iranian officials. The recording offers a chilling minute-by-minute account of one of the most devastating strikes of the conflict.
The Seconds That Saved a Leader
According to leaked audio obtained by The Telegraph, the strike hit the Khamenei compound at exactly 9:32 am local time on February 28. The attack was coordinated to eliminate multiple members of Iran’s leadership at once.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, had stepped out into the yard moments before the blast. He was heading back upstairs when the building was hit. The timing saved his life. He suffered only a minor leg injury. His wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, and their son were not so lucky. They died instantly in the strike.
The audio recording is attributed to Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the late Ayatollah’s office. He spoke during a March 12 meeting in Tehran, describing the scene in graphic detail. NDTV has not independently verified the authenticity of the recording.
What Happened Inside the Compound
Hosseini’s account paints a devastating picture of the strike’s impact. Iran’s military chief, Mohammad Shirazi, was blown to bits. All that remained to identify him was “a few kilos of flesh.”
Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law, Misbah al-Huda Bagheri Kani, was found with his head split in two. The strike hit multiple parts of the office complex simultaneously, targeting residences associated with several Khamenei family members.
Mostafa Khamenei, the former leader’s other son, was nearby at the time but escaped unharmed with his wife.
A Coordinated Attack
The February 28 strike was not a random act of war. It was a deliberate attempt to decapitate Iran’s leadership in a single blow. The compound housed not just the supreme leader but key family members and senior military officials.
The attack succeeded in killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his daughter-in-law, grandson, and son-in-law. It wiped out Iran’s military chief and sent shockwaves through the regime. But it failed to kill the man now tasked with leading Iran through its darkest hour.
Mojtaba’s Rise to Power
Days after his father’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen as Iran’s new supreme leader. His narrow escape from the strike that killed his family has already become part of his legend within the regime. For supporters, it is proof of divine protection. For opponents, it is a reminder of how close the regime came to total collapse.
A few seconds changed everything. If Mojtaba Khamenei had not stepped into the yard, he would have died with his wife and son. Instead, he walks with a minor leg injury and the weight of a nation on his shoulders. The leaked audio offers a rare glimpse into the chaos and horror of that morning. It also shows how war can turn on the smallest moments. A step outside. A few seconds. A life spared. A regime saved.
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