Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Thursday that he had met Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in person and spoken with him for two and a half hours, marking the first public confirmation that a senior official has seen the Islamic Republic's new supreme leader since his appointment more than two months ago.
Speaking at a meeting with trade unions and market representatives, Pezeshkian did not disclose when or where the encounter took place, what was discussed, or who else was present. He described the exchange as "completely unmediated."
"What stood out to me more than anything else in this meeting was (Mojtaba Khamenei's) manner, perspective, and deeply sincere and humble behaviour, an approach that transformed the atmosphere into one based on trust, calmness, empathy, and direct dialogue," Pezeshkian said.
Health Speculation Persists
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed by the Assembly of Experts following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes during the opening salvo of the war on 28 February. Since then, the new leader has made no public appearance and released no video or audio material, intensifying speculation about his physical condition. Statements reportedly authored by him have been read on state-run television.
The New York Times, citing four Iranian officials, previously reported that Mojtaba Khamenei sustained serious injuries in the strikes, underwent multiple surgeries on his legs and arms, and has difficulty speaking due to severe burns to his face and lips. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was wounded and likely "disfigured." Tehran has not confirmed those accounts.
Speculation was further fuelled by a mural in an Iranian city depicting Mojtaba Khamenei alongside figures described as martyrs of the Islamic Republic, including his father and former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani — all of whom are dead. Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, separately referred to Mojtaba Khamenei as the "martyred leader of the revolution" before calling it an error.
Domestic Calls for Unity
In a separate part of his speech, Pezeshkian urged tighter management of energy consumption and warned against excessive spending. He said Iran's survival depended on unity and cautioned against labelling citizens as corrupt, treasonous, or spies. "People should not simply be accused of corruption, treason or espionage, creating false boundaries between different sections of society," Pezeshkian said.
The confirmation of the meeting comes amid growing speculation about a potential agreement between Iran and the US, though Pezeshkian provided no details on that front. The lack of transparency around the new leader's health continues to raise questions about stability in Tehran, a matter of concern for European capitals monitoring the region.
For European readers, the situation underscores the opaque nature of Iran's leadership transition and its implications for international diplomacy, particularly as the EU maintains its own nuclear deal efforts and sanctions regime. The health of Iran's supreme leader remains a key variable in regional security dynamics, affecting everything from energy markets to migration flows.
