Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly doubts whether he actually met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after a highly unusual, covert meeting at an undisclosed location in Tehran, according to a report by Iran International.
Meeting in the Shadows
Sources from the president’s office revealed that Pezeshkian extracted the meeting as a “concession” from the Supreme Leader’s office following repeated requests and threats of resignation. Deviating from the standard practice of meeting at the leader’s official residence:
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Pezeshkian was escorted by security to a secret Tehran location.
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He was transferred into a commercial vehicle featuring heavily tinted windows.
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The interior was kept pitch-black, preventing either man from seeing the other.
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Security guards refused to allow Pezeshkian to shake hands, and the brief interaction ended abruptly after a few minutes.
Disconcerted and reportedly feeling humiliated by the encounter, Pezeshkian later privately questioned whether the voice in the dark truly belonged to Mojtaba Khamenei. A follow-up request for a formal meeting at the residence was denied.
This accounts sharply contrasts with public statements Pezeshkian made in May to trade representatives, where he described spending two and a half “cordial” hours with the Supreme Leader.
Escalating Rifts & Final Ultimatums
The strange encounter highlights growing political friction at the top of Iran’s government:
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Sidelined Leadership: Pezeshkian formally sought to resign in May, complaining that his administration was being completely excluded from crucial national security and foreign policy decisions.
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Military Alignment: According to Israeli media reports, Mojtaba Khamenei issued a “final ultimatum” to Pezeshkian, throwing his full backing behind Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Ahmad Vahidi on major diplomatic and conflict-related negotiations.
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Public Defense: Despite the friction, Pezeshkian publicly defended Khamenei in remarks reported by AFP, noting that direct communication has become “very difficult,” but praising the leader’s “sound logic” while accusing malicious actors of trying to derail their image.
The Mystery of Mojtaba Khamenei
The cryptic meeting adds to ongoing speculation regarding the whereabouts and status of Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after the latter was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026.
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5-Month Public Absence: Mojtaba has not appeared in public or delivered live broadcasted remarks for nearly five months. State media continues to rely solely on written statements read over static photos.
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Limited Access: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted in July that he had not seen Mojtaba during his tenure, confirming that access is restricted to a tight inner circle.
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US Claims: Adding to the intrigue, US President Donald Trump claimed during a Fox News interview that Iran’s leadership apparatus had been severely dismantled, alleging that the new Supreme Leader was “90% gone.”
