With current Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei not appearing in public after being injured in early airstrikes by the United States and Israel during the war, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said it is difficult to communicate with Khamenei.
Marking the second anniversary of his inauguration on the 5th (local time), President Pezeshkian said this in a nationally televised interview on state TV as he recalled the situation at the time when former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others were killed in early U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in the war.
He said, "Contrary to the enemies' intent to bring about state collapse, Iran has remained steadfast, and a new supreme leader has been elected," adding, "The very existence of the new leader is a great source of strength that allows us to keep moving forward on this path." He added, "At present, it is very difficult to communicate with the new supreme leader."
It was not made clear exactly what the remark "very difficult to communicate" mentioned by President Pezeshkian meant. However, this is the first time a senior figure in Iran's supreme leadership has made such a comment regarding the current status of Supreme Leader Mojtaba.
Mojtaba was reported to have been injured in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28 and has not appeared in public even once since becoming supreme leader. He did not attend his father's funeral last month, fueling speculation about his health.