Overview
- President Masoud Pezeshkian told Fox News on Thursday that he met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in person about a month to a month-and-a-half ago and that their meeting lasted seven hours.
- Pezeshkian said Khamenei is “very much so, completely” able to govern and that the government is carrying out the supreme leader’s directions.
- Mojtaba Khamenei has not made a public appearance or released regular video messages since his elevation after the Feb. 28 strikes that killed his father, and reports of serious injuries from that attack have not been independently verified.
- Pezeshkian cited a “lack of security” caused by foreign actions for Khamenei’s low public profile and said Iran remains willing to pursue the June memorandum of understanding with the United States to stop hostilities.
- The president’s statements supply Tehran’s main confirmation of control but the absence of independent proof keeps questions about who is making key decisions and could complicate fragile diplomacy and public confidence.