Iran’s new Supreme Leader has issued his first statement after assuming power despite recent rumors suggesting he is incapacitated. Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, was reportedly receiving intensive care at Sina University Hospital in the city’s historic district under tight security. Soon after reports of his condition surfaced, Iranian state media announced that the new leader would deliver a national address.
Iranian state TV later confirmed, “In a few minutes, the inaugural message of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, will be released.”
The statement called for the immediate closure of all US bases in the region, cautioning of potential attacks if they remain operational. It also affirmed the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a means of exerting pressure on the US and Israel.
“We extend a message to the regional leaders, emphasizing our desire for positive relations with neighboring countries,” Mojtaba Khamenei stated. “However, the presence of US bases in certain nations, utilized for hostile actions against Iran, is detrimental to regional interests and must cease. We do not harbor hostility towards our neighboring nations; our focus is solely on dismantling American bases.”
The statement expressed gratitude to the Iranian populace for their unified resistance against external threats. The Supreme Leader offered condolences to those who have suffered losses during conflicts and pledged compensation for damages. The statement affirmed a commitment to addressing human rights violations, particularly against children.
Earlier reports on Thursday suggested Khamenei had sustained severe injuries. According to The Sun, a source in Tehran indicated that the new leader was in critical condition at Sina University Hospital, with security personnel cordoning off sections of the facility.
The source, allegedly in contact with a dissident in London, lacks medical expertise but has connections within the hospital’s trauma team. Hospital staff purportedly disclosed that Khamenei’s condition is grave, involving the loss of at least one limb and rendering him comatose.
The evolving situation underscores the need for continuous updates.