Iran's state media released a rare video on Sunday of its supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appearing in good health, a move seen as an attempt to counter widespread rumors about his deteriorating condition. The footage, shared by the semi-official Mehr News Agency, depicts Khamenei, 56, sitting in a circle and speaking with a group of men.
However, the video's context and content have done little to dispel concerns. Sources close to the supreme leader and reports from Washington and Tehran suggest Khamenei suffered severe leg and facial injuries in an airstrike on Feb. 28. These injuries reportedly disfigured his face, leading to his prolonged absence from public view. Analysts point out that the released video appears to show Khamenei before the alleged bombing incident, thus failing to prove his current well-being.
Iranian officials have consistently denied reports of Khamenei's declining health, asserting he remains actively involved in governmental decisions. Qasem Qoraishi, deputy of Iran's Basij Organization, indicated that the Mehr footage is the first in a series of releases intended to demonstrate Khamenei's health and active role in leadership. He stated that future releases would include footage of Khamenei in public spaces and attending meetings with military officials, aiming to "disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people."
Further complicating matters, a purported meeting between Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in July has also been called into question. Pezeshkian himself suggested he may not have actually met the supreme leader, describing a brief encounter in a dark car in a secret Tehran location where he could not confirm the identity of the person he spoke with.
Previously, following rumors that Khamenei had been killed in the Feb. 28 airstrike, Iran released AI-produced images of him. The ongoing release of carefully curated media content underscores the persistent questions surrounding the supreme leader's health and his actual level of public engagement.