Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that he had a lengthy meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, whose health had been the subject of serious concern, and described him as being in very good health. [Reuters]
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that he had a lengthy meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, whose health had been the subject of serious concern, and described him as being in very good health. [Reuters]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei for seven hours and confirmed that Khamenei was in good health, pushing back against reports that had raised fears about his condition.

According to state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian addressed the gathering Monday at a meeting of party and political secretaries-general held at the Interior Ministry. "His health was very good, and he offered various guidance," Pezeshkian said. "I raised my concerns and problems, and he listened to me comfortably."

"The meeting with the leader of the Islamic Revolution was very good. I was able to see him for about seven hours and discuss all the issues facing the country," Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian said the most important topics discussed were the livelihoods, employment and housing concerns of the Iranian people. "Problems caused by sanctions, the positions of the government and the people, public support, and unity and solidarity were also discussed in detail at this meeting," he said.

He said the most important advice the supreme leader offered was to "maintain unity and solidarity." "All of the enemy's plans today are focused on sowing division and conflict. We must avoid any conflict and refrain from any words or actions that would undermine unity and solidarity," he said.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly insisted in recent weeks that the supreme leader remains in good health amid growing questions about his whereabouts. Earlier, at a nationally televised address marking the second anniversary of his inauguration on Aug. 5, Pezeshkian had said that "communication with the new supreme leader is currently very difficult." Two days later, on Aug. 7, Iran-based opposition outlet IranWire cited multiple sources as reporting that Mojtaba Khamenei was in critical condition and that cabinet members were aware of it.

After those reports emerged, Iran released footage through the semi-official Mehr News Agency showing Mojtaba Khamenei surrounded by a group of people. Iranian authorities also announced that they would release footage of the supreme leader meeting with citizens and attending to public welfare in the coming days.

Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to have been wounded in a US-Israeli airstrike in late February that killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has not appeared in public since, fueling speculation that he had died, was in critical condition, or had traveled to Russia for medical treatment.


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