Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei thanks Iraq for its stance against US and Israeli aggression in a new written message, as speculation over his health continues.
PARIS: Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has thanked the people of Iraq for their support in the war against the United States and Israel.
In a written message reported by Iranian media, Khamenei expressed appreciation for Iraq’s “clear stance against aggression”.
The ISNA news agency said the message acknowledged the supreme religious authority in Iraq and its people.
It referred specifically to the Iraq-based Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a highly revered Shia figure.
The message was delivered after a meeting between a Shia political party and Iran’s ambassador in Baghdad.
No details were provided on how the communication was transmitted.
Mojtaba Khamenei has still not appeared in public since being named leader.
He is the son of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on February 28.
State media have indicated the new leader is recovering from wounds sustained in that attack.
His absence has fuelled intense speculation about his condition and whereabouts.
Since his appointment, he has issued only a handful of written statements.
These include his first statement as supreme leader and a message for the Persian New Year.
Both statements were read on television by another speaker and defiantly predicted victory.
State media regularly publish images of Mojtaba Khamenei without confirming they are new.
He also maintains official accounts on Telegram and X.
US President Donald Trump commented on the situation last week.
Trump said Washington was dealing with a “top person” in talks with Iran but not the supreme leader.
“We have not heard from the son… We don’t know if he is living,” said Trump.
Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s third supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
He succeeds his father and the revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.