Iran has dismissed reports claiming that Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had died during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The clarification came from Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, which reported that she is alive and that earlier claims circulating on social media and some outlets were incorrect.
The speculation emerged after several reports suggested that multiple members of Khamenei’s family were killed during the initial attacks at the start of the war. However, Iranian authorities have now rejected claims about Bagherzadeh’s death.
Who is Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh?
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh is widely known as the wife of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite being part of one of Iran’s most powerful families, she has largely stayed away from public appearances and political life.
Over the decades, Bagherzadeh maintained a very private lifestyle, rarely appearing in official events or public ceremonies. Because of her low profile, limited information about her personal life has been publicly available.
Her name resurfaced in news reports after the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States escalated and led to major attacks on Iranian leadership figures.
Is Iran’s Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Alive or Dead?
The war began after a series of airstrikes on Iranian targets in late February, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran. According to some local reports, several members of the Khamenei family were killed during the initial phase of the conflict.
These reports claimed that apart from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, other relatives such as his daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and a grandchild also died during strikes carried out on the first day of the war.
However, Iranian authorities have not confirmed all of these claims. The government has instead focused on framing those killed in the attacks as “martyrs” while promising retaliation against Israel and the United States.
Mojtaba Khamenei Issues First Statement as Supreme Leader
Amid the escalating conflict, Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently assumed the role of Iran’s Supreme Leader, delivered his first public message. In the statement, he promised that Iran would respond to the deaths of its citizens and military personnel.
He also referred to the casualties caused by airstrikes, including children who were reportedly killed during attacks on a school in Minab.
The statement emphasised that Iran would not ignore the deaths of its people and would continue to respond to what it describes as aggression from the United States and Israel.
Strait of Hormuz Emerges as Key Strategic Issue
During the statement, Mojtaba Khamenei also discussed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for global oil shipments.
The Iranian leadership indicated that the strait could be used as leverage in the conflict. The waterway carries a large portion of the world’s oil and gas supplies, making it one of the most critical energy corridors globally.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei later commented on the situation, suggesting that maritime traffic could still pass through the strait under certain conditions.
“After the current events, generally we cannot return to conditions before February 28 (start of current Iran war)… as we have understood how important the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is, and so did the others,” the spokesperson said, reported news agency Reuters.
He also indicated that ships may still transit the strategic route if they coordinate with Iranian naval authorities.
Conflict Continues to Raise Global Concerns
The ongoing war between Iran, Israel and the United States has raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Military strikes, political warnings and disruptions in energy supply routes have increased tensions across the Middle East.
As the situation evolves, statements from Iranian leaders and developments around key strategic locations such as the Strait of Hormuz continue to draw global attention.
