Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed concerns over new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition on Saturday, stating there is “no problem” just days after US leaders claimed he was injured in recent airstrikes.
This comes amid surge in tensions following a joint US-Israel military operation on February 28 which killed 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — Iran’s longtime supreme leader — and several family members. The strikes targeted key Iranian sites, prompting Iran’s missile retaliation against Israel and US bases in Gulf nations. The conflict has roots in decades of friction over various issues escalated sharply last month.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, assumed leadership after his father’s death but has stayed out of public view. Iranian officials confirmed he was hurt in the attack without elaborating.
Araghchi, speaking to a news channel, said: “There is no problem with the new supreme leader. He sent his message yesterday, and he will perform his duties.”
US President Donald Trump fueled speculation on Thursday on Fox News, saying: “I think he probably is [alive]. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed similar sentiment on Friday at a Pentagon briefing: “We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.”
Khamenei broke his silence on Saturday via a statement read on state television by a presenter. He vowed revenge, declaring: “A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities.”
He added: “We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property.”
Khamenei also reiterated Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil chokepoint — and warned neighbours hosting US bases face risk of attacks if the facilities stay open.
