Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Iran releases video of Khamenei amid critical health reports
Iran has a very important leader called the Supreme Leader.
His name is Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Some news reports from Israeli media said he was very sick and might die soon.
An Iranian news agency called Mehr shared a short video of him.
The video is only 12 seconds long.
It shows him sitting with his advisers, looking calm and healthy.
But the video does not have a date, so nobody knows for sure when it was made.
Khamenei became the leader after his father died in a US-Israeli airstrike in February.
He has not been seen in public since then.
Iranian officials say some people are spreading wrong information about him, and nobody has confirmed whether he is truly sick or healthy.
Iran's Mehr News Agency released a 12-second, undated video of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, saying it was published 'for the first time'.
The clip shows Khamenei seated with advisers and officials, appearing calm and in good health.
The release came after Israeli media reported the 56-year-old leader is hospitalised in 'extremely critical condition' and could die within days.
US President Donald Trump has claimed Khamenei is '90 per cent gone', while Israel's Channel 14 reported he is in 'poor condition'.
Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after the February 28 attack, has not appeared in public since, and all health claims remain unverified.
- Who
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei; the video was released by Iran's Mehr News Agency, while health claims came from Israeli media and US President Donald Trump, with comments from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- What
- Mehr released a 12-second, undated video showing Khamenei seated with advisers and officials, appearing calm and in good health, amid unverified reports he is in critical condition.
- When
- The video was released on Saturday; the clip itself is undated, and it follows reports of his critical health that emerged days earlier. He succeeded his father after the attack on February 28.
- Where
- Iran; the recording location was not disclosed.
- Why
- To counter speculation over Khamenei's health and whereabouts following reports that he could die within days.
State-linked narrative
Critical condition reports
Khamenei's health status
State-linked narrative
The Mehr video shows Khamenei with advisers and officials, appearing calm and in good health, indicating he is well despite the rumours.
Critical condition reports
Israeli media report he has been hospitalised and is in 'extremely critical condition' or 'poor condition', possibly dying within days, while Trump claims he is '90 per cent gone'.
Evidence and verification
State-linked narrative
Mehr presents the clip as the first time such footage of the Supreme Leader was published, and President Pezeshkian says malicious people present a different image of him.
Critical condition reports
The clip is undated and independently unverified; Khamenei has not appeared in public or released any photos or voice recordings since the conflict began, so his current condition cannot be confirmed.
- News agency
- Mehr News Agency (Iran)
- Video length
- 12 seconds
- Subject
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei
- Age of leader
- 56 years old
- Video content
- Khamenei seated with advisers, wearing a black turban and light grey robe, appearing in good health
- Clip date and location
- Undated; location not disclosed
- Contradicting claims
- Israeli media report an 'extremely critical condition'; Trump claims he is '90 per cent gone'
- Succession
- Became Iran's third Supreme Leader on March 8 after father Ali Khamenei's death on February 28
