In response to statements from the United States, Iran rejected claims about Khamenei's health. U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview with NBC on March 14, expressed doubts about the life of the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
Earlier, on March 12, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at a press conference that Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured and was "disfigured." He pointed to the lack of video and audio evidence with the new Supreme Leader as confirmation of his words.
The Iranian side has already denied such accusations. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, previously claimed that the new Supreme Leader was indeed injured, but that he is currently not in any danger. Commenting on the absence of public appearances by Khamenei since his appointment, the diplomat noted that "he probably does not feel comfortable making appearances." On the same day that Baghaei made his statements, Khamenei issued his first official written statement, indicating the possibility of opening new fronts in the conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
On March 11, just a day before this, the son of the Iranian president and government advisor, Yousef Pezeshkian, denied rumors about the injuries of the new Supreme Leader, stating that he is "safe and sound."
