In the image, Khamenei is seen speaking with Amani, who was recently injured in September's attacks in Beirut, allegedly linked to Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. Iran maintains that Amani is recovering, as highlighted in the official meeting notes. This meeting follows unsourced claims that Khamenei, 85, had been incapacitated and had secretly nominated his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor.
The rumors gained traction after a New York Times report last month suggested Khamenei was “seriously ill.” This prompted intensified speculation, despite the absence of credible sources or confirmations from Iranian state channels. In response, Khamenei’s social media account on X (formerly Twitter) shared the image, captioning it with details of the meeting in Persian, further emphasizing his continued engagement with state matters.
Backdrop of Escalating Tensions and Khamenei’s Rare Sermons
Last month, Khamenei made headlines with his first public sermon in five years. Speaking to an audience of thousands at a Tehran mosque, he wielded a gun while delivering a fiery address against Israel, celebrating missile strikes as a "public service" to the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance. He claimed that Israel’s existence is unsustainable, rallying support for Hamas and Hezbollah amidst the ongoing Middle East crisis.
These recent events have spotlighted the ambiguity surrounding the Iranian leadership's stability and Tehran’s broader strategic postures. Critics argue the released photograph could be an attempt to stage-manage perceptions amidst growing uncertainty, while supporters emphasize its validity as a counter to baseless claims. The timing of these controversies reflects the heightened stakes in regional geopolitics and internal dynamics within Iran’s power structure.