'Critical' no more? Iran shares surprise video of Mojtaba Khamenei

Days after Israeli media reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was in critical condition and had been hospitalised, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News agency released an undated video showing him appearing to be in good health. The video of Mojtaba Khamenei was published for the first time by Mehr, a semi-official Iranian news agency linked to the government, in an apparent effort to counter growing speculation about the Supreme Leader’s health and whereabouts. Earlier on Friday, Israeli media reported that Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition”, adding to speculation over his health and whereabouts. Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader shortly after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28. Since taking office, he has made no public appearances and has communicated only through written statements. Reports have claimed that he was injured in the strikes and has since relied on intermediaries to communicate with senior Iranian officials. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also added to the uncertainty, saying in a state television interview that direct contact with Khamenei was currently “very difficult”. In July, Saudi news outlet Al Hadath, citing an Israeli security source, reported that Khamenei was “not in Iran”. US President Donald Trump later told Fox News that Iran’s top military leadership had been eliminated and claimed Khamenei was “90% gone” and incapacitated following the military campaign. Iranian state officials have played down the severity of his injuries, describing them as superficial. They have also maintained that he continues to oversee key decisions and issue directives. However, the lack of live public appearances or direct addresses has fuelled continued speculation in Iran and abroad about his health and ability to lead. Western and opposition-linked sources have claimed that he suffered serious injuries and has since relied on written statements and intermediaries to communicate. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location in Tehran for a brief meeting with a man introduced to him as Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iran International. The reported encounter has added to questions surrounding the secrecy around Iran’s new leadership. Pezeshkian was allegedly escorted into the back seat of a dark, tinted-window vehicle, where the man identified as Khamenei was already seated. According to the report, the windows remained covered and security personnel prevented the two men from seeing or shaking hands, leaving them to communicate only by voice. The report further claimed that Pezeshkian later questioned whether the voice he heard during the meeting actually belonged to the new Supreme Leader.