Iranian President Says He Met with Invisible Mojtaba Khamenei

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he recently met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to state media, offering the first public account of a meeting with Khamenei since he was reportedly severely wounded at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Khamenei has not appeared in public or released video statements since assuming the role of supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in an Israeli airstrike in February. His absence has drawn growing attention amid the war with the United States and Israel, as well as uncertainty inside Iran over the country’s leadership and decision-making.

State media reported that Pezeshkian described the meeting as taking place in a “humble and deeply cordial” atmosphere. The report did not include images or video from the meeting, and it did not provide details on Khamenei’s medical condition, the location of the meeting or who else attended.

The statement appeared aimed at signaling that Khamenei remains involved in state affairs despite the lack of public appearances. Iranian officials have offered few details about his condition since the beginning of the war, and state media has largely avoided direct discussion of his injuries.

Khamenei’s prolonged absence has come at a sensitive moment for Tehran. Iran is under heavy military and economic pressure after months of fighting with the US and Israel, while also facing negotiations over a possible framework to end the war. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the US blockade of Iranian ports and continuing Israeli strikes on Iranian-backed targets have added to the pressure on the regime.

Pezeshkian’s comments come as Iran is expected to respond to a US peace proposal that would reportedly declare an end to the war and open a 30-day period for resolving outstanding issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, frozen assets and security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.

The lack of visual confirmation from the meeting is likely to leave questions unanswered about Khamenei’s condition and role in the negotiations. Still, the report marks the first official public indication that Iran’s president has met with him since he became supreme leader under wartime circumstances.