Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei appears in first video amid speculation over health

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appeared in an undated video amid growing speculation over his health.

Khamenei has remained largely out of public view since the February 28 US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei.

The brief footage, which shows Mojtaba Khamenei appearing in apparent good health, was released by Iran-based Mehr News Agency.

“A video of the Leader of the Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, released for the first time,” the agency posted along with the video on its website on Saturday.

The 12-second clip showed Mojtaba, who reportedly suffered severe facial and leg injuries in the February 28 attack, apparently in good health and seated on a carpet in a closed room. Wearing a black turban and a light grey robe over white clothing, he was seen interacting with people sitting around him.

The clip showed Khamenei seated and speaking with several officials and advisers. He appeared composed, but the footage provided no independent evidence about his current health. Mehr said it was the first video of Khamenei it had released since he became Supreme Leader.

It was not immediately clear when or where the video was shot.

On March 20, state-run broadcaster IRIB had also shared a similar video of Mojtaba.

“Published for the first time. A video of religious science teaching by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei,” it had said on X without specifying the date or location.

Mojtaba Khamenei has issued multiple written statements through state-run news agencies since his appointment as Iran’s third Supreme Leader on March 8 but has not posted any image or voice recording.

The 56-year-old was also not seen at his father’s funeral ceremonies last month.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said this week that communication with Mojtaba was very “difficult at the moment”.

“It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue,” he said.

Pezeshkian, however, said he had been able to hold productive meetings with him and had been met with “kindness and very sound logic”.

“Unfortunately, the current situation allows some malicious people to describe him differently and to present a different image of him,” he said.

US President Donald Trump last month claimed that Mojtaba was “90 per cent gone”.

Israel’s Channel 14 recently reported that Mojtaba was in “poor condition”.