Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said during a televised address on Wednesday, Aug. 5, that communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is very difficult at the moment. He added that the supreme leader's presence remains a major asset that allows the country to continue.
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 on the first day of a war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran. The new leader was appointed in March after being injured in the offensive, which also killed many Iranian officials.
Absence and public speculation
The supreme leader has never appeared in public since his appointment and communicates only through statements attributed to him. His discretion during clashes with the United States and his absence from his father's funeral in July have sparked questions about his health, possible assassination, and ties to other senior Iranian officials.
Pezeshkian defended the ayatollah, saying the leader received him with kindness and very solid logic during meetings. He criticized malicious people for taking advantage of the current situation to describe the leader differently and present a false image of him.
