Khamenei broadcasts message without appearance, raising concerns

Iranian state television aired the first statement from Mojtaba Khamenei since his appointment as Supreme Leader, but the 56-year-old did not appear on camera.

The broadcast, read by a news anchor, offered no explanation for his absence, raising questions about the new leader’s condition and public presence, AP reports.

An Israeli assessment suggests Khamenei may have been wounded during the opening stages of ongoing regional hostilities. Despite these uncertainties, the new ayatollah signaled a continuation of his late father’s strategy in confronting the United States and Israel.

In the statement, Khamenei expressed his willingness to continue the conflict that has already disrupted global energy supplies, affected international travel, and challenged the relative stability historically enjoyed by Gulf Arab states under the shadow of Iran’s theocracy.

By Vafa Guliyeva