Iran on Friday released a video of its new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, teaching religious studies to a group of students.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the footage was being released for the first time, but it did not tell how old it was.
Mojtaba Khamenei took over as Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US strike on February 28. Since then, he has largely remained out of public view, leading to speculation about his health.
In his first statement after assuming power, Khamenei called for national unity and said the vital global artery of the Strait of Hormuz would continue to be closed to pressure Iran’s enemies.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has publicly questioned Khamenei’s condition. “We don't know ... if he's dead or not. Nobody's saying he's 100% healthy… nobody's seen him, which is unusual,” he said.
Earlier reports also suggested he may have been injured in the same attack that killed his father. Iranian state television also described him as a “wounded veteran” of the conflict, but Iran's minister Abbas Araghchi claimed there was “no problem” with the new leader.
Khamenei, 56, is considered a powerful but low-profile figure in Iran’s system. He has long been seen as influential behind the scenes, with strong links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He served in the Habib Battalion during the Iran-Iraq War and is said to have built lasting relationships with figures who later rose to senior positions in Iran’s security apparatus, including intelligence and Basij commanders.
The US State Department has announced a $10 million reward for information on Mojtaba Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
