Mojtaba Khamenei appears in video amid reports of critical health
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency has released an undated video showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appearing to be in good health. The 12-second footage shows Khamenei seated with officials and advisers. The release aims to counter recent reports from Israeli media, including Channel 14 and The Jerusalem Post, which claimed the 56-year-old leader is in "extremely critical condition."
Speculation regarding Khamenei's health and whereabouts has intensified following his absence from public view since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after military strikes on February 28. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has previously noted that direct interaction with the Supreme Leader is currently "very difficult."
Opposition-aligned outlet IranWire, citing sources close to the Pezeshkian administration, reports that rumors of Khamenei being on his deathbed are circulating widely within the highest levels of the Iranian regime. There has been no independent confirmation of these health claims.
Entities: Ali Khamenei · Iran · Masoud Pezeshkian · Mehr news agency · Mojtaba Khamenei
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that direct interaction with the Supreme Leader is currently very difficult. (Masoud Pezeshkian)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following military strikes on February 28. (General report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration claim rumors of Khamenei's imminent death are circulating within the regime. (IranWire via The Jerusalem Post)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The semi-official Mehr News agency released a video showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appearing in good health. (Mehr News agency)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Israeli media outlets reported that Khamenei is in extremely critical condition. (Israeli media outlets)