Iran releases first clip of Supreme Leader after he was 'disfigured' in bombing
Iran releases first clip of Supreme Leader after he was 'disfigured' in bombing
Maria Villarroel Mon, August 10, 2026 at 2:27 PM UTC
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Iranian state media Sunday released footage of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei (Image: -)
Iran released a rare video of its Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, as speculation over his ill-health grows amid a prolonged absence from the public eye.
In a video published by the country's semi-official news outlet, Mehr News Agency, Khamenei was seen sitting in a circle, speaking to men. It remains unclear who the men in the circle are and when the video was recorded.
The footage also showed Khamenei in good physical health, with no visible injuries. His appearance in the video seemed to contradict speculation that he had suffered 'disfiguring' injuries on the Feb. 28 attack by the U.S. and Israel that killed his father and started the war in Iran.
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According to Washington and Tehran, Khamenei, 56, suffered severe leg and facial injuries in the attack, both of which are visible in the recently released footage. The date the video was recorded has not been independently verified, but his lack of injuries suggests it may have been recorded before the war began.
Khamenei has not been publicly seen in half a year, and several reports suggest that the supreme leader is suffering from health complications stemming from his injuries in the massive attacks.
Shia Muslim pilgrims hold the portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei (Image: AFP via Getty Images)Iranian president says communicating with supreme leader is 'very difficult'
The undated video comes as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said last week that contacting Khamenei was "very difficult at the moment."
"It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue," Pezeshkian said.
Khamenei has communicated with the public through written statements, though he has not been seen since his father's death. He also did not appear at his father's funeral ceremonies last month, further escalating speculation over his health.
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Poster of Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran (Image: Getty)
Nevertheless, the president has insisted that he has held productive meetings with the supreme leader and has been met with "kindness and very sound logic."
"Unfortunately, the current situation allows some malicious people to describe him differently and to present a different image of him," he said.
Amid the speculation, a deputy of Iran's Basij Organization Qasem Qoraishi, suggested that Iranian officials would release a wave of footage reinforcing Khamenei's health. He said the videos the government is set to release will "once again bring disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people."
Questions over supreme leader's health come amid Strait of Hormuz controversy
Concerns over the supreme leader's health come as the country's authorities feel confident about their victory in its war with the U.S. as they are betting that military pressure will ultimately force the U.S. to accept their control over the crucial waterway for global energy.
Strait of Hormuz effectively closed as Iran makes new demands (Image: Getty)
Iran says it is close to reaching a deal with Oman to manage the strait, which runs between the countries. But on Saturday, Tehran said the strait will not open until the U.S. "corrects its behavior," saying it must permanently end the war, lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It alsp must "completely compensate" Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and "unconditionally" release frozen assets.
A deal with Oman would formalize Tehran's control over what had been an open international waterway before the war, one that carried a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas.
Adding to Iran's advantage is its knowledge about diminishing stockpiles of key U.S. weapons, such as advanced missile interceptors, how unpopular the war is with Americans, and the predictions that, as long as the strait is largely closed, the price of gas and other goods will stay high ahead of U.S. congressional elections in November.
Iran is also aware that trying to open it by force would be costly and may require American ground troops. They know their Houthi allies in Yemen could widen the war and disrupt another major trade route.
However, Iran's strategy could be risky. Trump points to strikes that have decimated Iran's top leadership, navy, and air force. He alternates between threatening escalation and saying talks are going well. Iran's own economy has been battered, in part because of a U.S. blockade. Iranians rose up in mass protests just months ago and could do so again.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
