Iran Releases Video Of Mojtaba Khamenei Amid Health Rumours

Iran's state-controlled Mehr news agency has released a 12-second video of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, amid ongoing speculation about his health. The video, which aired on Saturday, shows Khamenei seated on a carpet in a closed room, appearing in good health and interacting with officials and advisers.

The footage, released for the first time since his appointment as Supreme Leader on March 8, provides no concrete evidence about Khamenei's current health status. The agency did not specify when or where the video was shot. On March 20, the state-run broadcaster IRIB also shared a similar video of Khamenei, stating it was the first of its kind to be released.

Khamenei, who suffered severe facial and leg injuries in the US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor in February, has issued multiple written statements but has not released any image or voice recording since becoming Supreme Leader. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the difficulty in communicating with Khamenei, but noted that their meetings have been productive and that Khamenei's presence provides strength to the nation.

Despite the positive assessment by Pezeshkian, some have accused Khamenei of appearing in poor condition, with former US President Donald Trump claiming he was 90% gone and Israeli Channel 14 reporting he was in poor condition.