Mojtaba Khamenei seen, heard in rare video amid health concerns

A new video of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has surfaced amid growing mystery over his health, appearance and whereabouts.According to Al Arabiya, Iran’s Fars News released archival footage showing Mojtaba Khamenei surrounded by a group of people who offered prayers before beginning their discussions.The footage comes amid repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that Mojtaba is in "bad shape" and was "seriously injured" following the strikes that killed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s longest-serving Supreme Leader.This is the second video of Mojtaba Khamenei to emerge in August. The footage, however, is undated.It is also the first video in which his voice can be clearly heard. The video showed Mojtaba presiding religious academic discussion with clerics.The video was first published by Mehr, a semi-official Iranian news agency sponsored by the government and run by the Islamic Development Organisation. Its release appeared aimed at countering growing speculation about Mojtaba’s health and whereabouts.Reports of ‘extremely critical’ conditionThe video surfaced after reports in Israeli media claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei was in an "extremely critical condition".Israel’s Channel 14, citing sources inside Iran, and an earlier report by The Jerusalem Post, quoting IranWire and sources close to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, said concerns about Mojtaba’s health were circulating within Iran’s leadership.Iranian officials have rejected the reports.President Masoud Pezeshkian said Mojtaba Khamenei was "completely healthy", dismissing speculation about his physical condition, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency."Someone who can sit and discuss for seven to eight hours cannot have any health problems," Pezeshkian said, adding that he had held a "very good" meeting with Mojtaba earlier in August.Mojtaba’s low public profileMojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28.Since taking over, Mojtaba has largely remained out of public view.Unlike previous Iranian leaders, he has not made public appearances and has communicated mainly through written statements.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.