International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Iran has released a video purporting to show Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s good health, apparently seeking to put an end to recent reports of his death or serious condition. The video is apparently undated, making it impossible to confirm precisely when the footage was captured.
The video was published by the semi-official Mehr News agency several days after Israeli outlets reported that Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition.” The clip appears to be Tehran’s response to growing speculation about the ailing leader’s health and whereabouts, as neither it nor other Iranian state-run media outlets have shared any details on the circumstances under which the footage was captured.
Iran released an undated video aiming to show Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s good health, countering Israeli media reports of his critical condition, though the footage’s lack of context prevents confirmation of his current status.
The reports of Khamenei’s perilous condition came after Israel Channel 14 on Friday published an article based on information obtained from Iranian sources. It suggested that Khamenei’s health was “in an extremely critical condition.” Earlier on Thursday, The Jerusalem Post had also carried similar information, citing IranWire and Iranian sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian.
One of them reportedly claimed that the Israeli media would be publishing news of Khamenei’s death shortly.
NEW footage released of Irans new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei
This is from BEFORE he became the Supreme Leader. pic.twitter.com/RTVdj9mmI7
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) August 9, 2026
In this context, it is reasonable to suggest that Iran’s motivation for releasing the video was to reassure the public and counter persistent rumors of the leader’s death or debilitating health condition.
Nevertheless, as the video has no date, it cannot confirm that Khamenei is alive and well at the present time. Additionally, the circumstances under which it was captured remain unclear, as do the reasons for days’ delay in its publication.
The contradictory reports on Khamenei’s condition and location follow conflicting statements from Iranian officials on the matter, with the country’s authorities yet to share any detailed comments on the latest rumors.
