Tehran Seeks to End Speculation over Khamenei

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the country's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in late July, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.

The meeting took place amid ongoing questions about Khamenei's health. He has not appeared in public since assuming the highest office in March.

In recent weeks, Pezeshkian has provided conflicting information about his contact with the Supreme Leader. In late July, he claimed that their interactions were becoming more frequent, but in early August, he said that communication with Khamenei was “very difficult”.

According to state media, their July meeting focused on military and economic issues, including resource security, energy, foreign exchange and economic relations with foreign partners. The media also reported on a meeting between the two that lasted several hours in May.

Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly suffered serious injuries in the 28 February attack that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. This occurred on the first day of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Qasem Qoraishi, a representative of the paramilitary Basij organization, has now announced that footage of Khamenei in public, including during meetings with armed forces commanders, will be released in future.

(Reuters, MJA)