Iran's supreme leader to make public appearance amid critical condition rumors

Iranian media reported Sunday (local time) that Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the country's supreme leader whose health has recently been called into question, would soon appear in public.

According to Defapress, a news agency run by the Iranian military, Ghasem Ghoreyshi, deputy commander of the Basij paramilitary force, said at an event that "photos and documents of Ayatollah Khamenei among the people, on the streets, and at military commanders' meetings will be released in the future." Ghoreyshi said the planned release of images of Mojtaba was intended to "again bring shame upon the malicious enemies of Iranians."

Iran's state media, including IRIB and IRNA, also recently reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Mojtaba Khamenei as he entered the third year of his presidency, discussing a range of issues including military developments and foreign economic exchanges.

The moves appear to be an attempt to dispel recent reports that Mojtaba is critically ill. He was reportedly seriously wounded on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel struck a location where Iranian leadership had gathered. Since being named supreme leader, he has not appeared at any official public event, and his official statements have been read aloud by announcers on state television — fueling persistent questions about his condition.

Iran has maintained that Mojtaba has stayed out of public view due to assassination risks, but IranWire, a UK-based Iranian opposition outlet, reported Aug. 7 that he is in critical condition.

Citing multiple sources, IranWire said Mojtaba has had no contact with cabinet members and that rumors are widespread among Iran's leadership that his death could come at any time.