"President Is Safe"... Iran Officially Announces Pezeshkian's Well-being Amid Khamenei's Death [US-Iran War]

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

The Office of the President of Iran officially announced on the 1st (local time) that President Masoud Pezeshkian is unharmed 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 Head 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 about the president's well-being, which had arisen after the news of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death was reported the previous day, particularly as President Pezeshkian had not been seen in public and even the release of his condolence message was delayed.

The presidential office added that a message of condolence from President Pezeshkian regarding the tragic martyrdom of the Supreme Leader would be released soon. Previously, Israeli media and others reported that President Pezeshkian, along with Khamenei, had been among the primary targets of the latest airstrikes.

Facing an unprecedented situation following the vacancy of the Supreme Leader, Iran has formed an "Interim Leadership Committee" to manage the state during the transitional period in accordance with Article 111 of the Constitution. The committee consists of three members: President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and one Islamic law expert from the Guardian Council. They will temporarily assume the duties and powers of Khamenei until the next Supreme Leader is elected.

Institutionally, the three-member committee is to assume authority; however, given the wartime circumstances, some analysts believe that real power may fall to Mohammad Mokhber, former First Vice President and a close aide to Khamenei, or to 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, which consists of 88 clerics, to elect the next Supreme Leader.

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