Iran's Pezeshkian recently met Supreme Leader Khamenei, state media says

Tehran: The semi-official Mehr News Agency has released the first video of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, since he took on the country's highest office. The brief 12-second clip, shared on Saturday, shows Khamenei seated on a carpet while conversing with several officials and advisers. Dressed in a black turban and a light grey robe over white clothes, Khamenei appears composed as those in attendance listen.

However, the video's origin and current relevance remain undisclosed, making it challenging to validate whether it represents his present state.

The release comes in the wake of months filled with rumours regarding Khamenei's health. Upon becoming Iran's Supreme Leader in March, following his father's assassination in US-Israeli strikes, Khamenei has largely communicated through written statements attributed to him rather than through public appearances, photographs, or video messages. This absence has fueled widespread speculation about his health and whereabouts.

Opposition-linked Iranian outlets and several Israeli media organizations have reported, without independent verification, that Khamenei was hospitalized after sustaining injuries during the February attack. Channel 14 in Israel claimed he remained in critical condition and could die within a few days, though no evidence to back these reports has surfaced.

Mehr described the footage as the first of Khamenei since he assumed the position of Supreme Leader. Earlier this year, Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), published an undated video of him teaching a religious class, but once again, the filming date and location were not disclosed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged this week that communication with Khamenei was "very difficult" at present but claimed to have met him and found their discussions to be constructive. He also denounced attempts by "malicious people" to portray the Supreme Leader inaccurately.