A video released by Iran's Mehr News Agency purportedly showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei recently was traced by social media users to older lectures delivered in Qom, according to reports. The episode follows earlier efforts by Iranian state media to counter persistent health rumors, and only deepens questions about the leader's whereabouts.
The video released by Iran's Mehr News Agency on Sunday, purportedly showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a recent religious lesson, was quickly debunked by social media users who traced the footage to older lectures delivered in Qom, according to reports. The episode follows a similar attempt by Iranian state media earlier on Sunday to counter persistent rumors about the leader's health, and only deepens the mystery surrounding his whereabouts and condition.
The health rumors date back to Friday, Aug 7, when the opposition outlet IranWire reported, citing sources close to President Pezeshkian's administration, that Khamenei was in critical condition and could die at any moment. Over the course of Friday, the reports multiplied: multiple sources confirmed he had been rushed to a hospital in critical condition, and a source close to the Iranian medical cabinet said no cabinet member had met with him since he assumed leadership. In an apparent effort to counter the rumors, Iranian state media released a 13-second video of Khamenei on Sunday, claiming it was recent. However, that video was also met with skepticism, and the Mehr video that followed was traced to older Qom lectures.
As The Zioneer has reported, Khamenei has made no verified live public appearance since taking power following his father's assassination in the February 28 strike. Reports in recent months have indicated he was injured in the strike, and his absence from his father's funeral in July fueled further speculation. The regime has at times released documentation purported to show him, but none have been independently confirmed as recent.
The exact whereabouts and health condition of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remain unverified. No independent confirmation of the regime's video claims has been provided, and the debunking of the Mehr footage adds to the uncertainty surrounding the leader's status.
9 developments
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Source and signal
- Open-source intake