By Euronews Persian
Published on
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday he had met Mojtaba Khamenei in person and spoken with him for two and a half hours, in the first public confirmation that the Islamic Republic’s new ayatollah has been seen by a senior official since his appointment more than two months ago.
Pezeshkian, speaking at a meeting with trade unions and market representatives, gave no details of when or where the meeting took place, what was discussed, or who else was present. He said the exchange was “completely unmediated”.
“What stood out to me more than anything else in this meeting was (Mojtaba Khamenei’s) manner, perspective, and deeply sincere and humble behaviour, an approach that transformed the atmosphere into one based on trust, calmness, empathy, and direct dialogue,” Pezeshkian said.
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed by the Assembly of Experts following the death of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes in the opening salvo of the war on 28 February.
In the two months since his appointment, the new leader has made no public appearance and released no video or audio material, fuelling sustained speculation about his physical condition. Statements reportedly authored by him have been read on state-run television, however.
The New York Times, citing four Iranian officials, previously reported that Mojtaba Khamenei sustained serious injuries in the strikes, has undergone multiple surgeries on his legs and arms, and has difficulty speaking due to severe burns to his face and lips.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was wounded and likely “disfigured”. Tehran has not confirmed those accounts.
The speculation was amplified in recent weeks by a mural unveiled in an Iranian city depicting Mojtaba Khamenei alongside figures described as martyrs of the Islamic Republic, including his father and former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani — all of whom are dead.
Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, separately referred to Mojtaba Khamenei in a post as the “martyred leader of the revolution” before describing the reference as an error.
In a separate part of his speech on Thursday, Pezeshkian called for tighter management of energy consumption and warned against excessive spending.
He said Iran’s survival depended on unity and cautioned against labelling citizens as corrupt, treasonous, or working as spies.
“People should not simply be accused of corruption, treason or espionage, creating false boundaries between different sections of society,” Pezeshkian said.
His remarks came as Iran’s judiciary has accelerated issuing heavy sentences, including executions, since the start of the war and the subsequent ceasefire.