Iran says Supreme Leader Khamenei staying out of public view on security advice

WASHINGTON, United States — TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public view due to security advice. In a television interview, Araghchi said Khamenei continues to manage state affairs at full capacity. Security and intelligence services advised against public appearances under current conditions, he said. Communication channels to the supreme leader remain active and orders reach government institutions without interruption, according to Araghchi. The minister stressed that loyalty and obedience within state institutions toward the new supreme leader match the levels seen during the tenure of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Araghchi also said the United States must recognize Iran as a strong state regionally and internationally, and that Washington should recalibrate its relations with Tehran accordingly. The statements come amid ongoing speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei's health. Reports have circulated claiming he was seriously wounded during a U.S.-Israel strike in February, which Iran has denied.