Iran publishes first footage of Mojtaba Khamenei since his appointment, after reports on his condition

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency released the first video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei since his appointment in March, after months of absence from public view. The undated clip shows him meeting with aides. The release follows reports of a deterioration in his health, but it cannot be independently verified.

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency on Sunday released the first footage of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, since he was appointed in March. The roughly 12-second video is undated, with the agency only saying it was filmed 'recently'. It shows Khamenei sitting in a meeting with several people and conversing with them. No details were given on the location, the time of filming, or his medical condition. The release comes after recent reports, originating from Israeli media, that Khamenei had been hospitalized and was in serious or critical condition. No independent confirmation of these reports has been published. Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was chosen as Supreme Leader in March, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in the American-Israeli strike on February 28. His prolonged absence has raised questions about his health and his involvement in running the country. As early as April, Reuters reported, citing three sources close to Khamenei's inner circle, that he was seriously wounded in the attack that killed his father, suffering severe injuries to his face and legs. In July, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said contact with Khamenei was increasing and his condition improving, but no updated photo or voice recording was released then either. The video released today is the first attempt by a media outlet affiliated with the regime to present seemingly current visual documentation, but since the filming date was not published, it does not allow determining his current medical condition.