Iran to release new images of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei amid health speculation

Iran to release new images of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei amid health speculation

Iran is preparing to release new images of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in public, state media reported on Friday, amid mounting speculation over his health and prolonged absence from public view since assuming office five months ago.

Iran's state-run Mizan news agency, citing Basij Organisation deputy Qasem Qoraishi, said images of Khamenei "among the people and out in the streets" as well as meeting armed forces commanders would be released in the future. The announcement follows a 12-second video released Thursday by semi-official Mehr News Agency showing Khamenei speaking with officials and advisers while seated on a carpet and delivering a religious lesson. The agency did not specify when or where the footage was recorded.

Succession and early leadership challenges

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was selected as Supreme Leader on March 8 by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the clerical body constitutionally empowered to choose, supervise and if necessary dismiss Iran's highest authority. The succession process lasted from March 3 to 8, following the death of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was 86 years old and had served for nearly 37 years since June 1989.

The elder Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that marked the beginning of the 2026 Iran war. Between his death and the appointment of his successor, an Interim Leadership Council consisting of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi governed the country from March 1 to 8. Iran declared 40 days of national mourning following the strikes.

Limited public appearances fuel speculation

Khamenei's limited visibility has fuelled questions about his health and whereabouts. CNN previously reported, citing sources familiar with his selection, that he suffered a fractured foot and minor facial injuries during the first day of the bombing campaign. Opposition-linked Iranian outlets and some Israeli media have also reported claims about his health and alleged hospitalisation, though these reports have not been independently verified. Israeli Channel 14 has claimed that Khamenei remains in critical condition but has provided no independently verified evidence.

The latest video is not the first undated footage released since Khamenei became Supreme Leader. Iran's state broadcaster IRIB earlier published a video showing him teaching a religious class without disclosing when or where it was filmed.

Meeting with President Pezeshkian

Iranian state media also reported that Khamenei met President Masoud Pezeshkian as the president began his third year in office. Pezeshkian was elected on July 6, 2024, and formally assumed office on July 28, 2024, following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a May 2024 helicopter crash.

State broadcaster Press TV said the two discussed Iran's economic and military affairs, including cost-of-living needs, the war, military developments and the management of currency and energy spending. The Islamic Republic News Agency also reported the meeting, saying they discussed the country's challenges and the conflict outlook.

President Pezeshkian said this week that communication with Khamenei had been "very difficult" but that he had been able to meet the Supreme Leader and described their discussions as constructive.

Background and military ties

Before his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei served as Vakil, or deputy, of the Supreme Leader from August 2008 to February 2026. He has deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, having served in the IRGC Ground Forces and Basij, making him a highly influential figure in Iran's security establishment.

The 2026 Iran war, which began with the February 28 strikes, led to a conditional ceasefire on April 8 with talks mediated by Pakistan. The conflict caused widespread regional disruptions including halted flights, closed airspace in multiple countries, and shipping reroutes to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea.

The latest reports from Iranian state media portraying Khamenei meeting officials and discussing military and economic issues appear aimed at demonstrating that he remains engaged in running the country. However, the timing of the newly released footage and the extent of his current public activity remain unclear.