Iranian Minister Downplays Concerns Over Supreme Leader's Health Following Rumors of Injuries

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Araghchi

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Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that there was “no problem” with the Islamic republic’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who US officials say was wounded.

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On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he believed Khamenei, who took power after his father was killed in a strike at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, “is wounded and likely disfigured.”

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Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told MS NOW’s Ayman Mohyeldin “there is no problem with the new supreme leader. He sent his message yesterday, and he will perform his duties.”

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Iranian officials have previously confirmed reports that the new leader is wounded but have given no further detail.

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Khamenei, 56, has not been seen in public since the airstrike that killed his father and predecessor as supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and several key family members.

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But on Thursday, he issued a written statement, in which he said his wife, sister, her child and his brother-in-law were killed. He vowed to avenge the deaths since the start of the war with the United States and Israel.

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He also emphasized Iran’s potential to cause havoc across the region by squeezing oil supplies and using regional proxies.

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AFP

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