Story perspectives

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Appears Publicly, Meets President

8/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mehr News Agency released a video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei speaking with people, his first public appearance since his March appointment.
Basij deputy Qasem Qoraishi said more footage of Khamenei among the people and with armed-forces commanders will be released.
President Masoud Pezeshkian met Khamenei in late July to discuss military and economic issues as officials continued to deny any health decline despite reports of injuries from the Feb. 28 strike.

History

Historical Context

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s February 1 1979 return to Tehran was greeted by several million people; he declared Shapour Bakhtiar’s cabinet illegal and the Shah fled. Iran’s leadership continues to use high-visibility broadcasts—most recently Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s first televised address to cement authority and shape both domestic dissent and international perception.

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Story summary

Mehr News Agency released a video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei speaking with people, his first public appearance since his March appointment.
Basij deputy Qasem Qoraishi said more footage of Khamenei among the people and with armed-forces commanders will be released.
President Masoud Pezeshkian met Khamenei in late July to discuss military and economic issues as officials continued to deny any health decline despite reports of injuries from the Feb. 28 strike.

1 / 2