Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in late July to discuss military and economic matters. The president has provided differing accounts of his access to Khamenei, who has been largely out of public view since succeeding his father in March. A Basij deputy pledged that footage showing Khamenei in public will be released to counter speculation about his health and visibility.
State Media: Pezeshkian Met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei In Late July; Basij Promises Public Footage
Women stand in front of a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on the day of a public farewell ceremony to pay their respects to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, in Tehran, Iran July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
DUBAI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - 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 deputy commander of the Basij paramilitary said video and other documentation showing Khamenei in public would be released at a later date.
According to state outlets, the meeting addressed military matters and a range of economic issues, including securing resources, managing foreign exchange and energy consumption, and strengthening economic ties with foreign partners.
Pezeshkian has given varying descriptions in recent weeks about his access to Khamenei, who—state reports say—has not been widely visible in public since assuming the role following his father in March. On July 21 the president said his interactions with the supreme leader were "increasing day by day," but in early August he described communication with Khamenei as "very difficult."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, August 8, 2026. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL. NO ACCESS FOR ISRAELI MEDIA. NO USE BBC PERSIAN. NO USE VOA PERSIAN. NO USE MANOTO. NO USE IRAN INTERNATIONAL. NO USE RADIO FARDA. DIGITAL: NO USE BBC PERSIAN. NO USE VOA PERSIAN. NO USE MANOTO. NO USE IRAN INTERNATIONAL. NO USE RADIO FARDA. ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL
State media also reported in May that Pezeshkian met Khamenei for several hours; that encounter was then the first publicly reported meeting between the two since the leadership change.
Separately, some outlets have reported that Khamenei was seriously injured in a February 28 strike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, on the opening day of what they describe as a U.S.-Israeli war involving Iran. These reports and many details about the supreme leader's health and public appearances have not been independently verified.
Basij Deputy Qasem Qoraishi said on Sunday that footage and other records showing Khamenei among the public, walking in the streets and appearing with armed forces commanders would be released in due course, adding that the material would "once again bring disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people."
The comments appear aimed at countering speculation about Khamenei's health and absence from public view. Reuters reported the state media account; independent confirmation of the meetings and the promised footage was not available at the time of reporting.
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