Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a public appearance in the capital Tehran on Saturday amid reports of his failing health.
He took part in a ceremony to commemorate Arbaeen, which marks the 40th day after Ashura, the day Islam’s Prophet Muhammad’s grandson was killed in 680 AD, wearing mask and sporting black dress.
A mourning ceremony for the #Arbaeen (40th day) of the martydrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain (as) was held an hour ago, with Imam Khamenei in attendance pic.twitter.com/nSd14DH6Kj
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) September 17, 2022
It was a pre-scheduled meeting with representatives of university students that his office had publicized a few days ago.
The annual meeting had been canceled past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, like all other public engagements of Iran's top leader.
Images released by his office on Saturday showed Khamenei waving to the audience and walking slowly to his seat on the podium with participants chanting his name.
Speculation about his deteriorating health were fueled by a report by The New York Times on Friday citing unnamed sources in Khamenei's office that he was "gravely ill" after undergoing surgery for bowel obstruction.
The report further stated that he was too weak to even sit or walk and had canceled all his meetings and public appearances.
There was no reaction to the report from Khamenei’s office or government spokespersons.
Reports about the supreme leader’s deteriorating health have surfaced many times in recent years, without his office confirming or denying them.
The rumors of the poor health of Iran’s Supreme Leader @khamenei_ir appear to be true, as reported by the NYT. His death will be a major event for the future of Iran and the Middle East. He’s been ruling since 1989. https://t.co/V4fIYN2M5c pic.twitter.com/UekRggtHoC
— Karim Sadjadpour (@ksadjadpour) September 16, 2022
Khamenei, 83, has served as Iran's Supreme Leader since 1989, after succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of Iran's revolution in 1979.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
