Iran has provided a rare update on the health of its new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following weeks of speculation about his condition. President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Thursday that he recently met with Khamenei, describing the leader's demeanour as humble and intimate.
Background of Khamenei's Absence
The update comes after Khamenei had not been seen in public since US-Israeli strikes initiated the war with Iran on 28 February. Previous suggestions from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that Khamenei was 'disfigured', fuelling concerns about his well-being.
US Peace Proposal and Trump's Comments
Former US President Donald Trump stated that the conflict with Iran would 'be over quickly' as Tehran reviews a new US peace proposal aimed at ending hostilities. Trump mentioned having 'very good talks' with Iran over the past 24 hours, though he stressed there is 'never a deadline' for their response to the proposal. Iran confirmed that the US proposal to end the war is 'still being considered'.
In a statement, Trump said, "We have had very good talks with Iran. There is never a deadline, but we believe there is a very good chance the war will end soon."
Iran's president Pezeshkian noted that the meeting with Khamenei was positive and that the supreme leader is actively engaged in state affairs despite his absence from public view. The update aims to reassure both domestic and international audiences about the stability of Iran's leadership during ongoing tensions.
