"Iran Announces President Pezeshkian is Safe Amid Khamenei's Death, Officially Refutes Rumors [US-Iran Airstrikes]"

Iranian Presidential Office: "Pezeshkian's Safety Is Fully Assured"
Condolence Message for Khamenei to Be Announced Soon

The Iranian presidential office officially announced on March 1 (local time) that President Masoud Pezeshkian is safe and in good health following airstrikes by the United States and Israel.

President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

Mohammad Mahdi Tabatabaei, Deputy Director of Public Relations at the Iranian presidential office, told the state-run IRNA news agency, "President Pezeshkian's health and safety are in perfect condition." This statement directly refuted rumors concerning the president's well-being that emerged after the news of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death was reported the previous day, as President Pezeshkian had not appeared in public and even the release of his condolence message had been delayed.

The presidential office added that President Pezeshkian's condolence message regarding the Supreme Leader's tragic martyrdom would be announced soon. Previously, Israeli media and others reported that President Pezeshkian, along with Khamenei, had been among the main targets of the recent airstrikes.

Facing the unprecedented situation of the Supreme Leader's passing, Iran has formed an "Interim Leadership Council" to oversee the country's administration during the transitional period, in accordance with Article 111 of the Constitution. The council consists of three members: President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and one Islamic legal expert from the Guardian Council. These three will temporarily assume Khamenei's duties and authority until a new Supreme Leader is selected.

Institutionally, the three-member council will act as the interim authority, but given the wartime circumstances, some analysts predict that real power may be held by Mohammad Mokhber, former First Vice President and one of Khamenei's closest aides, or Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who oversees military and security affairs. The Iranian government has decided to immediately convene the Assembly of Experts, consisting of 88 clerics, to select the next Supreme Leader.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.