TEHRAN Aug 5, 2026 — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that direct communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is currently “very difficult,” while stressing that the leader’s presence remains a vital source of strength for the country.
In remarks aired on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian stated: “It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue.”
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran in late February 2026 that also wounded the younger Khamenei and marked the start of a wider Middle East conflict. The new supreme leader has communicated primarily through written statements and was notably absent from his father’s funeral ceremonies last month.
Pezeshkian rejected speculation about divisions within Iran’s leadership or questions surrounding the supreme leader’s health and accessibility. He said he had held productive meetings with Khamenei and had been received with “kindness and very sound logic.” The president also criticized those who, in the current tense climate, seek to “describe him differently and to present a different image of him.”
The comments come as Iran continues to face significant external pressure, including ongoing regional hostilities and intensified sanctions. Pezeshkian’s acknowledgment of communication difficulties has drawn attention to the unusual opacity surrounding the supreme leader’s role more than five months into his tenure.
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