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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday (May 7, 2026) that he has met with the country's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since his appointment in early March.

In a video broadcast by state media, Pezeshkian said: "What struck me most during this meeting was the vision and the humble and sincere approach of the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution." The president did not specify when the meeting took place.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement was reported by Al Jazeera, The Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu, all of which highlighted the meeting as a rare public acknowledgment of contact with the new supreme leader, who has remained out of public view since his appointment.

Al Jazeera noted that Khamenei has not made public appearances since being wounded early in what it described as the "US-Israeli war on Iran." The Jerusalem Post framed the injuries as consequences of "the Israel-US war with Iran," while The Hindu referred to "the West Asia war."

All three outlets quoted Pezeshkian's remarks, with Al Jazeera and The Hindu focusing on the leader's absence from public life. The Jerusalem Post additionally cited anonymous sources familiar with Khamenei's condition.

Key Claims

  • Meeting between Pezeshkian and Khamenei: All three sources reported the meeting, with Pezeshkian praising the supreme leader's "humble and sincere" demeanor.
  • Khamenei's absence from public life: The Hindu stated that Khamenei "has not been seen in public since his appointment in early March," a detail echoed by Al Jazeera and The Jerusalem Post. The Hindu noted that "the new leader has been conspicuous in his absence from the public stage, in stark contrast to frequent appearances made by his father."
  • Wounds from the war: The Hindu reported that Khamenei "was wounded in strikes on the first day of the West Asia war" that killed his father, Ali Khamenei. The Jerusalem Post, citing three anonymous sources, said Khamenei "is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father." The same sources said his face was disfigured and he sustained significant injury to one or both legs.
  • Decision-making via audio conferencing: According to two anonymous sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, Khamenei "is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington." This claim has not been independently verified.
  • Background: The Hindu reported that Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba's father, was killed at age 86 after more than three decades as supreme leader, and that Mojtaba was appointed by the Assembly of Experts on March 9.

Perspectives

Al Jazeera

The outlet framed the meeting as a confirmation that contact with the supreme leader continues, but emphasized his ongoing seclusion since being wounded in the "US-Israeli war on Iran."

The Jerusalem Post

This source provided additional, sourced details on Khamenei's injuries and his participation in decision-making via audio conferencing, citing anonymous insiders. It placed the events in the context of the "Israel-US war with Iran."

The Hindu

The report focused on the contrast between the new leader’s absence from public view and his father’s frequent appearances, while also providing biographical context about the succession and the war that led to Ali Khamenei’s death.