Ayatollah Khamenei’s “National Day of the Persian Gulf” Message

While speculation about the health of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei continues in international media, his official website has been steadily publishing messages in his name. A spokesperson attributed his survival on February 28 to his presence in the courtyard of the supreme leader’s compound moments before the blast. The more consequential question, however, remains: If he is indeed alive and well, how much authority does he exercise relative to the regime’s de facto collective leadership – the heads of the three branches of government and representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regular military?

• April 30: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s website published a message from him commemorating the “National Day of the Persian Gulf”:
  • “The Iranian nation, which possesses the longest coastline along the Persian Gulf, has made the greatest sacrifices for its independence and in confronting foreigners and aggressors.”
  • “The presence of American foreigners and their entrenchment in the lands of the Persian Gulf is the principal cause of insecurity in the region. America’s fragile bases lack even the capacity to ensure their own security let alone that of their dependents and regional adherents.”
  • “By the power and will of God, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be one without America and in the service of the progress, comfort, and prosperity of its peoples. We and our neighbors along the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman share a common destiny, and foreigners who come from thousands of kilometers away, greedily sowing mischief, have no place there – except in the depths of its waters.”
• May 1: Mohsen Qomi, deputy for international affairs at the Office of the Supreme Leader, addressed Khamenei’s health in remarks to Fars News Agency that were republished by centrist Asr-e Iran:
  • “Under the current circumstances, the most important issue is helping to preserve the life of the supreme leader … Despite the injuries he sustained during the attack on the leader’s residence, Almighty God preserved him … for, just minutes before the explosion, he had stepped into the courtyard for work-related reasons, and this is what saved his life.”
  • “At present, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is in complete health and is engaged in managing the country’s affairs, including issues of negotiations and field operations, under his direct supervision. He has recently also issued guidance to the negotiating team and maintains full oversight over these matters.”

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