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Regime claims Khamenei in 'full health' despite going to groundSince he was appointed the leader in March, Iranian state media have issued only written statements attributed to KhameneiLast updated 2 days ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Commuters walk past a large tiled image of Iran's current leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as they enter and leave the metro station in Tehran on May 9, 2026. Photo by ATTA KENARE /AFP via Getty ImagesIran’s supreme leader’s long absence from public view has led to growing speculation that the injuries he sustained in an airstrike on Feb. 28 are more severe than the regime is letting on.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIn Tehran’s first public statement on Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition, a senior official told Fars News on Friday that the supreme leader was “in full health.”“(His) back injury has improved during this period, and the kneecap injury will soon heal as well,” added Mazaher Hosseini, director general of protocol at the office of the supreme leader, according to a translation by the Telegraph. Countering reports on Khamenei’s facial injuries, Hosseini said there was only a “small crack behind the ear.”Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Channel Israel will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againKhamenei has been in hiding since he was injured on the first day of the Iran-U.S. war on Feb. 28. He reportedly narrowly escaped death after missiles struck and flattened his father’s fortified compound. The surprise airstrike killed his wife, son and his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.The New York Times reported in late April that the younger Khamenei was being tended to by a team of doctors and medical staff and that access to him was otherwise limited. Senior officials do not visit him due to safety concerns. Instead, the 56-year-old leader writes down all his instructions that are hand-delivered by a series of trusted couriers.Four Iranian officials aware of his condition told the paper that Khamenei’s severely burned face and lips would require plastic surgery. One of his hands was slowly regaining function, and he was awaiting a prosthetic leg.Since he was appointed the leader in March, Iranian state media have issued only written statements attributed to Khamenei, who has not been seen in public. The reclusive Khameini kept a low profile and was rarely seen in public or photographed before becoming Iran’s third supreme leader.An image of him appearing without any sign of injury posted to Khamenei’s X account appears to be AI-generated, a BBC analysis shows. The image is believed to have been taken from a video recorded years ago at a pro-government rally.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had met with Khamenei for more than two hours last week, the first time a meeting with the ruler has been reported.Additionally, Iran’s state broadcaster reported that Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s Central Military Headquarters, had met the cleric on Sunday and provided a report “on the readiness of Iran’s armed forces.” During the meeting, Khamenei ordered military operations against the U.S. and Israel to continue, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, on Monday, said that the month-long ceasefire was “on massive life support” with only “a one per cent chance of living” after rejecting Iran’s latest counterproposal.“That piece of garbage they sent us — I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump said.Parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been handling negotiations with the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic state, warned the U.S. on X after Trump rejected Iran’s counterproposal.“The Iranian armed forces are fully ready to respond in a regret-inducing way to any aggression.“Wrong strategy and wrong decisions will always have wrong results, the whole world has already understood this,” he added.National PostOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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