India, March 11 -- Iran has deployed an elite counterterrorism unit to protect its newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli strike, media reports said.

The strike, reportedly carried out under an operation referred to as Operation Epic Fury, is said to have killed the elder Khamenei along with several members of his family during attacks on February 28.

Reports also claimed Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the strike that killed his father and other relatives.

However, a senior Iranian figure has dismissed those claims, saying the new Supreme Leader is "safe and sound". Mojtaba Khamenei, who was declared Supreme Leader on Sunday, has not yet addresse...