TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently had a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been absent from public view since the outbreak of the latest Middle East conflict, according to a statement from Khamenei’s office on Sunday. The statement mentioned that Pezeshkian met Khamenei at the beginning of his third year in office, although it did not provide the date of this meeting.
Pezeshkian, who took office in July 2024, previously mentioned he met Khamenei in early May without sharing any details about when it occurred; at that time, Khamenei’s office did not issue a statement either.
Recently, the president commented that communication with Khamenei has been “very difficult at the moment,” which has led to speculation about Khamenei’s health, especially following reports that he sustained injuries in strikes that resulted in the death of his father. During their recent meeting, the two leaders reportedly discussed various issues facing the country, including the current military situation and future outlook.
Iran has been in talks with Washington regarding the ongoing war that began in February, but a tentative agreement fell through, leaving negotiations largely limited to messages exchanged through intermediaries. On Sunday, the Tasnim news agency quoted a general from the Revolutionary Guards, who mentioned that photos of Khamenei in public and at meetings would be released in the future, although no specific timeline was given.
