Iranian state media published a 13-second video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming it is recent, as two sources close to the regime said he is critically ill and may die at any moment. The regime appears to be attempting to counter persistent rumors about the leader's health.
The Iranian regime on Sunday released a 13-second video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming it is recent, in an effort to counter persistent rumors about his health. The video, published by Iranian state media, comes after two sources close to the regime told The Zioneer that Khamenei is critically ill and may die at any moment.
The reports of Khamenei's deteriorating condition began on Friday, Aug 7, when the opposition outlet IranWire, citing sources close to President Pezeshkian's administration, reported that the Supreme Leader had not met with any government officials since the Feb. 28 strike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and that his health was failing. Later that morning, IranWire reported that two sources said Khamenei was in extremely critical condition and could die at any moment. By Friday afternoon, multiple sources inside Iran confirmed to The Zioneer that Khamenei had been rushed to a hospital in critical condition, with reports suggesting a formal announcement of his death could be imminent.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, Khamenei has been largely absent from public view since assuming power after the February strike. The regime's release of a video on Sunday appears to be a direct attempt to counter the growing speculation about his health, which has raised questions about the stability of Iran's leadership.
The video's claim of being recent has not been independently verified. The regime has not provided any corroborating evidence for the footage, and the assertions from state media directly contradict the reports from multiple sources who described Khamenei's condition as critical. The true state of the Supreme Leader's health remains unclear.
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