Tehran has released a rare video of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, apparently seeking to counter persistent rumours about his health and his months-long absence from public life.
The short video was broadcast by Tehran-based semi-official Mehr news agency and shows the 56-year-old Khamenei sitting with several men and speaking with them.
However, the footage leaves a significant gap: it does not indicate when or where it was recorded, nor does it identify the people around him.
This is the main reason why the video alone cannot resolve questions about his health.
Video raises further questions
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed Iran’s supreme leadership in March, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike on February 28.
Since then, he has remained almost completely out of public view.
His absence has fuelled months of speculation about his health, with reports and sources claiming he was seriously injured in the same strike that killed his father.
Iranian authorities, however, have repeatedly denied that the Supreme Leader is suffering from a serious health condition.
The new video of Mojtaba Khamenei appears to form part of Tehran’s efforts to demonstrate that he remains active and continues to perform his duties.
However, the lack of a date and location leaves the key question unanswered: is the footage recent, or was it recorded earlier?
Khamenei is also not shown making a public appearance or attending a major official event.
State Media Video of Khamenei Backfires, Heightening Health Rumors
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Tehran promises more footage
Iranian officials appear to be trying to change the perception created by Khamenei’s prolonged absence.
Qasem Quraishi, deputy head of the Basij organisation, said more footage of Khamenei would be released.
According to reports, the upcoming videos will show him appearing in public, moving through the streets of Tehran and meeting commanders of the armed forces.
The message is clear: Iran’s leadership wants to demonstrate that the Supreme Leader remains active, makes decisions and is firmly in control of the country.
The reported meeting between Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian also forms part of this effort. Iranian state media said the two men discussed the needs of the population, the military situation and the country’s economic problems.
Pezeshkian’s conflicting remarks
At the same time, comments by the Iranian president have added to the discussion surrounding Khamenei’s condition.
Pezeshkian recently said communication with the Supreme Leader was “very difficult”, raising further questions.
Reports also claimed that during an earlier meeting, the two men communicated inside a tinted-windowed car at an undisclosed location in Tehran, with the president allegedly unable to clearly see his counterpart.
These claims have not been independently verified, but they were enough to revive speculation about Khamenei’s health and his actual level of public activity.
The fact that the new video provides no clear information about when or where it was recorded means it does not fully answer those questions.
Why Khamenei’s health matters
Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition is not only a personal matter. His health is directly linked to Iran’s political stability, particularly at a time of war, economic pressure and heightened tensions with the United States.
A serious deterioration in his health could trigger a new power struggle within Iran’s political establishment, with different factions seeking a greater role in decision-making.
The role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is also significant, as it remains one of the most powerful institutions within Iran’s political system.
For now, there is no independent confirmation that Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition, as some reports have claimed.
The new video shows that he is alive and appears to be speaking with officials. However, because the date of the recording remains unknown, it cannot by itself confirm his current state of health.
Tehran is therefore seeking to put the issue to rest, but questions remain over whether Khamenei will soon make a genuine public appearance or whether the mystery surrounding his health and role in power will continue.
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