Statement on claims that 'Khamenei is in Russia for treatment'

The Iranian Embassy in Moscow has issued a statement regarding claims that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was secretly taken to Moscow on a Russian military aircraft due to health issues and security concerns. In a post on his social media account, Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, stated, "Reports that the Supreme Leader has been brought to Russia for treatment are a new form of psychological warfare. There is no need for Iranian leaders to hide in bunkers; their place is on the streets among the people."

"HIS HEALTH IS GOOD, HE MAY GIVE A NEW SPEECH SOON"

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also stated that Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and may give a new speech soon. Baghaei said,

"I can tell you that he is well. You have already heard his speech, and I hope he will address the public again very soon." Baghaei described the conflict in the Middle East as a "war imposed on Iran by the US and Israel," adding, "The Iranian people are determined to defend their homeland, and that is exactly what we are doing right now."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry had previously stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the US-Israeli airstrike on February 28 that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, but that his condition was stable.

CLAIMS THAT KHAMENEI WAS TAKEN TO MOSCOW

The Kuwait-based newspaper Al-Jarida had claimed in its report that 56-year-old Khamenei was taken to Moscow following a "medical treatment offer" made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. According to the report, it was alleged that Khamenei was taken to Moscow on a Russian military aircraft last Thursday following the phone call.