Iran has said to release more footage of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, which will have images of him with the public, meeting senior military commanders, and footage on the streets. The announcement has been aired following continued questions over the 56-year-old leader’s prolonged absence from public views and questions over his health and whereabouts.
The announcement by the Basij Organization comes as the Iranian state-linked media released an undated video of Mojtaba Khamenei amidst the reports and claims about his condition. However, the video lacked a clear date.
“It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue,” Pezeshkian said.
Ahead of this remark, it was said that Pezeshkian met the country’s supreme leader in a dark, tinted-window car. The meeting occurred at a secret location in Tehran. Pezeshkian, however, could not see the man beside him and questioned whether the voice he heard was really of the supreme leader, the Iran International reports suggest.
The video comes days after Israeli media reports said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition”; the video was released on August 9, where Khamenei was interacting with people and appeared to be in good health.
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his death by the killing in US-Israel strikes on February 28. Ever since then, limited public appearances have come under scrutiny.
Reports have also suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured in the US-Israel attack. However, even before becoming supreme leader, his appearance in public was low.
In May, earlier this year, Iranian state media said that Pezeshkian and Khamenei held discussions for several hours.
However, the limited public appearances are not common for a leader who is positioned as the most powerful in Iran. However, Iranian authorities have maintained that Mojtaba Khamenei continues to see the affairs of the country. The reports have also emerged of his meeting with senior officials, with Iran state media reporting that President Masoud Pezeshkian met Khamenei in late July.
