Iran President Pezeshkian says contact with Leader Khamenei difficult

Masoud Pezeshkian Mojtaba Khamenei communication difficulty Iran leadership US‑Israeli strike

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told state television that communicating with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is currently very difficult. He added that the leader’s presence remains a major source of strength for the country and that national unity is Iran’s greatest defence against external enemies.

Pezeshkian said the new supreme leader, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after a U.S.–Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026, has not made any public appearances since taking office. The strike also wounded Mojtaba Khamenei and killed Ali Khamenei.

The president accused hostile powers of trying to create division within Iran and referenced a 14‑point U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June 2026, which Khamenei publicly endorsed. Pezeshkian portrayed the supreme leader as an “exceptional” figure whose ethics and reasoning inspire confidence despite the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

Entities: Abbas Araghchi · Ali Khamenei · Ayatollah Ali Khamenei · Ebrahim Raisi · Iran · Israel · Israel · Israel · Masoud Pezeshkian · Mojtaba Khamenei · United States · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[DISPUTED] Pezeshkian claimed he met Khamenei in a secret, dark‑car meeting but could not see the leader. (report from Iran International and a Japanese news outlet)
[● 9 SOURCES] Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded Ali Khamenei after the latter was killed in a US‑Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026. (multiple statements)
[● 9 SOURCES] The US‑Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026 killed Ali Khamenei and wounded Mojtaba Khamenei. (multiple statements)
[● 6 SOURCES] President Masoud Pezeshkian said communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is very difficult at the moment. (multiple state‑TV statements on 5 August 2026)
[● 5 SOURCES] Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearance since his appointment in March 2026. (state‑TV reports and international coverage)
[● 5 SOURCES] Pezeshkian said Khamenei’s presence is a major source of strength that allows Iran to continue its work. (state‑TV address)
[● 18 SOURCES] Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the same February 2026 attack that killed his father. (multiple reports)
[● 24 SOURCES] Ali Khamenei was killed in the U.S.–Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026. (multiple reports)
[● 18 SOURCES] Pezeshkian accused hostile powers of trying to create division within Iran. (President Masoud Pezeshkian)
[DISPUTED] Pezeshkian claimed he has met Khamenei and received kindness and sound logic from him. (Masoud Pezeshkian)
[● 16 SOURCES] Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the U.S.–Israeli strike on 28 February 2026 that killed Ali Khamenei. (Reuters and other reports)
[● 16 SOURCES] The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on 28 February 2026. (multiple news agencies)