The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Uzbekistan, Muhammad Ali Iskandari, denied rumors about the whereabouts of the country's new Supreme Leader, Mujtaba Khamenei, during a press conference in Tashkent. The diplomat stated that the leader is not in Moscow but in Iran and continues to perform his duties.

During the meeting, Iskandari recalled that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and family members were killed in an attack on February 28, with the Assembly of Experts appointing Mujtaba Khamenei as the new leader in early March. However, the 56-year-old leader has not made any public appearances in the past month, fueling rumors of his treatment in Moscow.

Iskandari declared: "Our Supreme Leader is alive, healthy, and performing his duties. He is with the people, managing society, leading the army, and making important political decisions." The ambassador also emphasized that, despite the war, no one has fled Iran, contrasting this with other countries where similar events might cause mass exodus.

The diplomat noted that the purpose of the rumors is to weaken Iran and ascertain the leader's location. "I can say that the Supreme Leader is inside the country, continuing the same policies as his predecessor. We have strength, and this strength will only grow," he added.

Iskandari stated that even in case of defeat, Iranians would not perceive it as such: "We will either win this war or fall as martyrs. We are Muslims and will fight to the end. This is not propaganda; we truly have no hesitation." During the conference, the ambassador also criticized the actions of the US and Israeli regimes, alleging that they will continue to strike other countries in the region.

Source: kun.uz