Iran Denies US Claims About New Supreme Leader's Health

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly rejected recent statements from Washington regarding the health of the country's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The minister asserted that Khamenei is in good health and maintains full control over the nation's affairs.

This official denial comes in response to a series of claims made by senior U.S. Officials. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump expressed doubts about whether the new leader was even alive, suggesting in an NBC interview that he had "heard he is dead." Earlier, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated his belief that Mojtaba Khamenei had been "wounded and likely disfigured," citing a lack of recent audio or video evidence as support for his claim.

"I don't know if he's even alive. So far no one has been able to show him. I heard he is dead. If that is not the case, then he should do something very smart for his country, namely surrender," said U.S. President Donald Trump.

The situation has been marked by conflicting narratives from Iranian officials themselves. Earlier last week, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that Khamenei had been wounded but was now "fine." When asked why the leader had not made any public appearances since succeeding his late father, the spokesman suggested it might be due to discomfort with speaking in his current condition.

Despite this absence from public view, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, issued his first official written statement recently. In it, he indicated that Iran is considering opening new fronts in its conflict with the United States and Israel.

A prominent Shiite cleric with significant influence in Iran's political and religious spheres, Mojtaba Khamenei was elected Supreme Leader in early March following the death of his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes by U.S. And Israeli forces.