Iran's President Admits Communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Is 'Very Difficult' After 6 Months of Public Isolation

The admission comes amid intense speculation about Khamenei's health and whereabouts. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has not appeared in public since becoming Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike . The new leader was wounded in the same strike that launched the wider Middle East war . According to multiple reports, he communicates only through written statements and handwritten messages, and the regime has released no audio recordings of him . An Iran International investigation reported that the only known in-person meeting between Pezeshkian and Khamenei occurred in the back seat of a car .

Even during the interview itself, Pezeshkian did not specify the nature of Khamenei's injuries. Descriptions of severe facial burns and leg wounds come from separate investigative reports (Iran International, Reuters, Jerusalem Post), not from Pezeshkian's own words in this address .

The June U.S. Memorandum: A Divided Leadership

One of the most significant revelations from the interview concerned decision-making on foreign policy. Pezeshkian disclosed that 12 of 13 members of Iran's National Security Council voted in favor of the June memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States . Khamenei had initially said "he was not in favor of it," but ultimately approved the agreement after the council's overwhelming majority backed the proposal .

This corroborates earlier reporting from Axios and Al Jazeera that Khamenei authorized the U.S. talks despite personally opposing the MoU . In a written statement in June, the Supreme Leader wrote: "In principle, I had a different view, but because of the commitment that the President, as head of the Supreme National Security Council, gave on behalf of himself and the council members regarding safeguarding the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance, I accepted" . The 12-1 vote represents an unusual display of institutional pushback against the Supreme Leader's stated preference .

The Most Difficult Period Since the 1979 Revolution

Pezeshkian described his administration as facing "one of the most difficult periods since the 1979 Islamic Revolution" . The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with state media, reported that he cited intensified sanctions, security challenges, economic pressures, drought, and imposed military conflict . Other outlets report that he specifically referenced a naval blockade and ongoing military conflict in the region .

In April 2026, Pezeshkian had already called the continuation of the U.S. naval blockade "intolerable," writing on X that "what is being done under the guise of a naval blockade is an extension of military operations against a nation paying the price for its resistance and independence" . The blockade has severely restricted Iran's ability to export oil and import essential goods, with the Central Bank governor warning that Iran could face shortages of food and medicine within weeks .

The interview, broadcast by state television IRIB, featured a wide-ranging review of Pezeshkian's first two years in office. Despite the grim assessment, he emphasized that national unity had prevented efforts to destabilize the country .

Key Caveats

Several important details in this analysis come from sources other than Pezeshkian's interview. Pezeshkian did not provide new details about the precise nature of Khamenei's facial burns or specific injuries. The descriptions of severe facial burns, written-only communication, and the car-meeting account come from separate investigative reports (Iran International, Jerusalem Post) rather than from Pezeshkian's own words in this address. Additionally, Pezeshkian's characterization of "very difficult" communication was left vague; he did not clarify whether the difficulty stems from Khamenei's physical condition, security concerns, political isolation, or other factors.