Iran releases video of Supreme Leader to counter health rumours

Iran state media released footage of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday, 9 August, appearing to address an audience in Tehran. The broadcast serves as a direct official response to intensifying international speculation regarding the 87-year-old leader’s deteriorating health and reported hospitalisation. \n\n State media counters health reports \n The video, circulated by the official IRNA news agency and state television, shows Khamenei speaking to a group of officials. While the exact timing of the recording was not independently verified, state broadcasters presented the footage as contemporary evidence of his ability to perform his duties. The release follows a series of unverified reports on social media and specific foreign news outlets claiming the Supreme Leader had fallen into a coma or had undergone emergency surgery. \n\n Iranian authorities have historically used televised appearances to quell domestic and international concerns during periods of leadership uncertainty. Khamenei has held the position of Supreme Leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East. Any transition of power in Iran is closely monitored due to…