“Mojtaba Khamenei Is Completely Healthy”: Iran President Breaks Silence

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and that injuries to his face and legs have healed.

In an interview with CBS News, Pezeshkian said Khamenei has no ongoing health problems. He said he had met the Supreme Leader twice, including one meeting that lasted more than seven hours.

Pezeshkian, who is a physician, said Khamenei was medically healthy enough to remain seated and conduct the lengthy meeting. He also said the injuries to Khamenei’s face and legs had recovered.

Iran Ready to Resume Hormuz Talks

Asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Pezeshkian said Iran would honour its commitments to reopen the waterway and resume negotiations if the United States accepts Tehran’s proposal.

He said talks would begin on the same day Washington accepts the proposal.

Iran has recently said it is prepared to reopen the strategically important waterway if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade.

Distrust Between Iran and US

Pezeshkian said an atmosphere of distrust continues to exist between Iran and the United States.

He said direct talks with US President Donald Trump would be difficult because Washington continues to impose sanctions and, according to Tehran, has not honoured previous written commitments.

The Iranian president questioned whether the United States would fulfil its commitments after any new agreement was reached.

Iran Open to Nuclear Inspections

Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared to allow UN nuclear inspectors to enter the country and that a specific agreement could be reached during negotiations over nuclear inspections.

He said Iran was not seeking to develop nuclear weapons and described the development of such weapons as haram, or religiously forbidden.

Pezeshkian said that even if some people in Iran wanted to develop nuclear weapons, they would not be permitted to pursue such a programme on religious grounds.