Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded in the Feb. 28 strike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, but is in full health and carrying out his duties, an Iranian official said Friday. Mohsen Qomi, head of the International Affairs Office of Iran's Assembly of Experts, made the assertion as the new leader has not been seen or heard from directly since being announced as his father's successor.

Qomi described the circumstances of the strike that killed Ali Khamenei. "He was in the building at the time, the same building that was bombed and where those inside were martyred. A few minutes earlier, by coincidence or by divine will, he had gone into the courtyard, and God intended him to be spared," he said.

The Feb. 28 strike, attributed to either the United States or Israel, killed the elder Khamenei. Qomi said the younger Khamenei survived despite being hurt in the attack. "I assure you that despite the injuries he sustained there — God Almighty preserved him," he said.

Since Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as supreme leader, only written statements attributed to him have been issued by the regime. No audio or video message has been released. Qomi addressed questions about the absence directly, saying, "This is a tactic of the enemy, trying to say: why is he not present? Why does he not send an audio message? Why does he not send a video message?"

He added: "He is in full health and is managing affairs."

The claims about Mojtaba Khamenei's condition and activities have not been independently confirmed. The Assembly of Experts is the Iranian institution constitutionally tasked with matters relating to the supreme leadership.