Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive and in good health despite an extended absence from public view, according to statements made by the country’s president and senior officials. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since February, sparking speculation about his condition following reports that he sustained serious facial and leg injuries in US-Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, earlier this year.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Masoud Pezeshkian, an Iranian parliamentarian and close associate, confirmed that he has met with Khamenei in recent months and observed no major health issues. “I did not see any major challenges with his health or physical appearance,” Pezeshkian told reporters. In an interview with Fox News, he further asserted that Khamenei remains fully capable of governing Iran, with policy implementation handled by the administration while strategic guidance continues to come from the supreme leader.
When asked why Khamenei has not appeared in public, Pezeshkian attributed the leader’s low profile to security concerns stemming from what he described as foreign aggression. “This is a process created in our society, which is the lack of security that was created by the action of foreigners and the action of aggressors,” he said.
Pezeshkian’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States. In a related development, Iranian officials presented a proposal for a seven-day ceasefire aimed at reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said on Thursday that the plan had been submitted to the White House through mediation channels, offering a potential path to ease regional maritime tensions.
This announcement follows a series of hostile exchanges, including threats from Iran towards former US President Donald Trump. However, Pezeshkian denied that Tehran had ever sought to assassinate Trump or his family members, stating it was never the official position of the Iranian government, either overtly or covertly.
US officials have also commented on Khamenei’s communications. In June, Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, testified before Congress that the supreme leader appeared to be increasingly engaging with Washington, albeit indirectly and through intermediaries. Rubio noted that the absence of public appearances by Khamenei might be a precautionary measure due to internal system dynamics and security risks.
As uncertainty persists over the supreme leader’s public visibility, Iranian authorities maintain that he continues to direct the country’s strategic decisions while safeguarding his personal security amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.