Iran’s Pezeshkian recently met Supreme Leader Khamenei

WEB DESK: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in late July, around the start of the president’s third year in office, state media reported on Sunday.

A paramilitary leader also said footage of Khamenei would be released in the future.

Pezeshkian has offered differing accounts in recent weeks about his access to Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since succeeding his father as supreme leader in March.

On July 21, the president said interactions with the supreme leader were “increasing day by day”, but in early August he said communicating with Khamenei was “very difficult”.

The late July meeting covered military affairs and the economy, including securing resources, managing foreign exchange and energy use, as well as economic ties with foreign partners, according to state media.

In May, state media also reported that Pezeshkian had met Khamenei for several hours, in what was then the first publicly reported meeting between the two since Khamenei became supreme leader.

Khamenei was reportedly seriously injured in the February 28 strike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. He had also generally kept a low public profile before becoming supreme leader.

Basij Organisation deputy Qasem Qoraishi said on Sunday that footage and other documentation showing Khamenei among the public and out in the streets, as well as in meetings with armed forces commanders, would be released in the future.

Qoraishi said the footage would “once again bring disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people.” The comments appeared aimed at countering speculation about Khamenei’s health and lack of public appearances.