Khamenei 'makes public appearance' amid health crisis reports

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in public for the first time after the New York Times reported a severe deterioration in his health, after a bowel operation forced him to cancel all public meetings. 

Khamenei was struck by severe stomach pains early last week, according to the report, and received surgery at a medical facility attached to his home. 

His condition was believed to be critical but improving, while he received “around the clock” supervision by doctors that have been monitoring his rehabilitation. 

Then on Saturday, a photo was posted on Khamenei’s official website, claiming to show the Supreme Leader attending a public meeting with university student bodies ahead of the Shia religious festival of Arbaeen. 

The photo of Khamenei attending the event is yet to be independently verified. 

المرشد الإيراني الأعلى حضر لقاء عاماً مع هيئات طلبة الجامعات لإحياء مراسم دينية، وذلك بعد تقارير إخبارية أميركية عن تدهور صحتهhttps://t.co/WlTGGNKR9g

— العربي الجديد (@alaraby_ar) September 17, 2022

The Iranian government has been typically tight-lipped over the health of its supreme leader, who has had several medical scares in the last decade.  

In the void of official statements from the regime, rumours of his imminent death continued to circulate on social media.

But the fresh appearance in public on Saturday may dispel the rumours in the short term.   

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi travelled to Uzbekistan this week - and is forecast to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, journeys that have suggested to some analysts that the supreme leader’s death is not imminent. 

Raisi has also been given remit to steer Iran’s nuclear talks with the West in the absence of Khamenei in the public sphere, according to some pundits. 

Iran and the United States are struggling to overcome an impasse for revival of a 2015 nuclear deal that Washington exited in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.