Iranian president holds rare meeting with supreme leader

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian convened a rare meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, a development that came as Khamenei had not been seen in public since assuming the post early in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The meeting, announced by Khamenei's office, occurred at the beginning of Pezeshkian's third year in office, though no specific date was disclosed.

Pezeshkian, who assumed the presidency in July 2024, had previously mentioned a meeting with Khamenei, also without a date, but no official statement was released at that time. The president had stated on Wednesday that communication with the supreme leader was proving challenging, with rumors circulating about Khamenei's health following reports of him being wounded in strikes that claimed his father's life.

Khamenei's office clarified that the pair discussed Iran's current challenges, including the military situation and future outlook. Despite ongoing negotiations between Iran and Washington aimed at ending the war initiated by the US and Israel in February, talks have stalled, and Iran's top diplomat has indicated that future communications will be limited to messages relayed through mediators.

Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that images depicting Khamenei engaging with the public and participating in meetings would be released in the future, though no timeline was provided.