Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and continues to carry out his official duties despite remaining out of public view for security reasons, a senior Iranian diplomat has claimed.
The diplomat also revealed that Khamenei held a seven-hour meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week.
Abdul Majid Hakim Elahi, a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader and a senior diplomat, made the remarks in an interview with Indian news outlet NDTV.
Mojtaba has not made a public appearance since reportedly being injured in US-Israeli airstrikes nearly eight months ago. His father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the same strikes.
Following his father's death, Mojtaba assumed the position of Supreme Leader. Since then, he has communicated primarily through written statements, with his prolonged absence from public view fuelling speculation about his health and safety.
His reported absence from his father's funeral in July further intensified questions about his physical condition and possible threats to his life.
'He is healthy and performing his duties'Speaking to NDTV, Elahi insisted that Mojtaba Khamenei was physically well and continuing to discharge his responsibilities as usual.
"He had a seven-hour meeting with the Iranian president just last week," the diplomat said.
Elahi claimed that Iran's parliament speaker had also spoken about holding an extended meeting with the Supreme Leader. Several people known to him had met Mojtaba and confirmed that he was in good health, he added.
The diplomat also rejected reports suggesting that Mojtaba had missed his father's funeral.
According to Elahi, he was in Iran at the time and had met two of Mojtaba's brothers. He claimed that Mojtaba was also present at the funeral.
Elahi further claimed that the Supreme Leader occasionally goes out at night and has even participated in public demonstrations and gatherings in Iran.
Security concerns behind prolonged absenceIranian officials and several senior sources maintain that Mojtaba remains firmly in control of the country's leadership despite keeping a low public profile for security reasons.
Some sources have claimed that he sustained serious facial injuries during the US-Israeli strikes. During his recovery, he reportedly delegated a significant portion of routine administrative responsibilities to senior officials.
According to Iranian officials, Mojtaba continues to hold regular meetings with key figures, receive briefings on major national developments and make final decisions on important state matters.
Even before the war, Mojtaba reportedly preferred working behind the scenes as a close aide to his father and rarely appeared in public.
On July 21, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said communication with the Supreme Leader was increasing. However, in early August, he acknowledged that contacting Mojtaba had become "very difficult".
According to Iranian state media, a meeting held in late July focused on the military situation and economic challenges, including resource allocation, foreign exchange management, energy consumption and economic relations with international partners.
Earlier in May, state media reported that Pezeshkian had held a meeting lasting several hours with Mojtaba. It was the first publicly reported meeting between the two since Mojtaba assumed the country's top leadership position.
US raises questions over Iran's leadershipMeanwhile, US President Donald Trump has recently questioned who is actually running Iran and directing its wartime decisions.
Earlier this month, Trump claimed that Iran's top-tier leadership had been eliminated, along with its second-ranking officials.
He expressed concern over the lack of clarity surrounding who was currently in charge of the country and overseeing its military operations.
US Vice President JD Vance has also raised questions about Iran's decision-making structure.
Vance said Washington was holding discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but it remained unclear how much authority they actually wielded within the country's power structure.
He noted that the process through which major decisions are made in Iran was not entirely transparent.
Iran's Foreign Ministry, however, rejected the US assertions.
A ministry spokesperson maintained that Washington officials were well aware of the identities of their Iranian counterparts and understood how decisions were made within the country's leadership.
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, uncertainty continues to surround Iran's leadership, security situation and economy.
Mojtaba Khamenei's prolonged absence from public view has further fuelled speculation about his health and the extent of his involvement in running the country, despite repeated assurances from Iranian officials that he remains in charge.
FP/MIB
