The office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a video and several photos on Saturday of the cleric at a religious ceremony with a group of students, following rumors of his health condition.
In the video broadcast on state television, 83-year-old Khamenei is seen standing and praying during a religious ceremony in Tehran today.
Iranian officials have also released several photos of the leader standing in front of students during the ceremony of the Arbain festival, a major Iranian holiday.
The country’s state media, such as the IRNA and Mehr agencies, published images and news of the meeting, without mentioning the health status of Iran’s supreme leader.
This was his first public appearance after rumors circulated last week that he was ill and had to cancel several events.namely a meeting with the Assembly of Experts, which decides on his replacement.
The New York Times reported Friday that Khamenei was seriously ill and had surgery for intestinal problems.
“The ayatollah was in critical condition last week, but he has improved,” an unnamed source told the newspaper, adding that “his doctors are concerned because he is so weak that he can’t even sit up in bed.”
Iranian authorities do not routinely release information about the ayatollah’s health.
In 2014, it was reported that he had undergone prostate surgery.
Khamenei has been the highest-ranking political official in Iran since he took over as supreme leader on June 4, 1989, following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic.
Source: DN
