Message by Iran’s Supreme Leader published on Iranian outletspublished at 18:12 GMT
Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has instructed officials appointed by his father, late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to remain in post and continue working under existing directives, according to the message published by Iranian outlets.
“I hereby announce that, for the present, none of them requires the renewal of their appointment. It is crucial that they continue their work in accordance with the directives received during the lifetime” of Ayatollah Khamenei, says the message.
Khamenei who was chosen as the successor of his father on 8 March has yet to be seen in-person – nor filmed or photographed – since being named as the new supreme leader.
A message from him was read by the presenter on state-run news channel on 12 March. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on 13 March, without providing evidence, that Khamenei had been “wounded and likely disfigured” in one of the first air strikes on Tehran that killed Khamenei’s father
Son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Yousef Pezeshkian, said in a message on 11 March he had “heard reports” that the supreme leader had been injured. “I asked several friends who had relevant contacts, and they said that: by the grace of God, he is safe and there is no problem,” Pezeshkian said.
