Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “completely healthy”, dismissing speculation about his physical condition, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
Pezeshkian made the remarks after holding a meeting with Khamenei, saying the two had a “very good” discussion. He also pointed to the length of their meeting as evidence of the Supreme Leader’s health.
“Someone who can sit and discuss for seven to eight hours cannot have any health problems,” Pezeshkian said.
Pezeshkian Meets Mojtaba Khamenei Amid Health Reports
The meeting came amid persistent reports about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health. Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency released an undated video showing Khamenei appearing to be in good health.
The footage emerged after Israeli media reports claimed that the Supreme Leader was in critical condition and had been admitted to a hospital.
On Friday, Israeli media outlets reported that Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition”. Channel 14, citing sources inside Iran, and The Jerusalem Post, citing IranWire and sources close to Pezeshkian’s administration, reported that concerns over his health were circulating within Iran’s leadership.
Iran Announces Major Security Leadership Changes
The health clarification came alongside a significant reshuffle within Iran’s political and national-security establishment.
Mojtaba Khamenei appointed former Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as his political adviser, while veteran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezaei was appointed to a senior role in the SNSC. Current reports describe Rezaei as taking over as secretary of the council from Zolghadr.
In posts on X on Sunday, Khamenei announced the appointments and praised the experience of both men.
Addressing Zolghadr, Khamenei said: “In consideration of your valuable experience, I hereby appoint you to be my Political Advisor.”
He also expressed appreciation for Zolghadr’s work and referred to his “round-the-clock efforts”.
Announcing Rezaei’s appointment, Khamenei highlighted his military experience, noting that he had been among the first commanders during Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq.
Why The Reshuffle Matters
Zolghadr had taken over as SNSC secretary in March following the killing of Ali Larijani and had emerged as one of the prominent hardline figures in Iran’s security establishment.
His move into the role of political adviser does not necessarily mean a reduction in his influence. Instead, it places him closer to Khamenei’s political inner circle at a time when Iran is facing major security and diplomatic challenges.
Rezaei, meanwhile, is a veteran IRGC commander with extensive military and political experience. His elevation to the country’s top security body ensures that a senior Revolutionary Guards figure remains directly involved in Iran’s strategic security decision-making.
The reshuffle has therefore placed two experienced, IRGC-linked figures in influential positions around the Supreme Leader and the national-security establishment.
Strait Of Hormuz Tensions Add To Significance
The leadership changes come at a particularly sensitive time for Tehran, with Iran having issued conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and continuing indirect communication with Washington through intermediaries.
The developments add another layer of uncertainty to Iran’s decision-making process as the wider West Asia crisis continues.
The timing of the appointments was also notable, coming shortly after Khamenei’s meeting with Pezeshkian.
According to a post by the Supreme Leader on X, their discussions covered Iran’s economic and military situation, the basic needs of the population, the future of the ongoing conflict, military developments, resource mobilisation and the management of domestic currency, foreign currency and energy spending.
The talks also covered Iran’s economic relations with international partners, underlining the broad range of challenges facing the country’s leadership.
Pezeshkian Enters Third Year As President
The meeting also came as Pezeshkian entered the third year of his presidency. He was elected president on July 5, 2024, with the result formally followed by endorsement from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 28 and his swearing-in on July 30.
Pezeshkian’s election followed the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei has remained largely out of public view since assuming the position of Supreme Leader in March following his father Ali Khamenei’s death in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28.
His prolonged absence from public appearances has fuelled speculation about his health, making Pezeshkian’s latest remarks and the release of footage particularly significant.
(Inputs from ANI)