Iran’s Supreme Leader shown at event amid reports of deteriorating health | CNN

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
CNN
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was seen attending a ceremony at a mosque in Tehran on Saturday, according to photos and a video posted on Iran’s official websites and state media. A day after news of the malfunction circulated.

A picture appeared. Ayatollah Khamenei Wearing a mask and greeting the crowd attending the 40th day of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom.

Other pictures show him sitting on a chair on the right side of the room, holding prayer beads and looking at the imam delivering the sermon.

In the 12-minute video, the ayatollah is seen listening and speaking during the event, where Shiite worshipers gather to mark the end of 40 days of mourning for the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, in the seventh century. Commemorate. . A video on state media showed Khamenei addressing the crowd at the ceremony.

The New York Times said Friday that Khamenei had canceled all public appearances last week after becoming “gravely ill” and was being monitored by a team of doctors.

Citing four unnamed people familiar with his health, the Times reported that Khamenei is on bed rest after undergoing surgery last week for an intestinal obstruction.

Photos published on several Iranian media showed that the 83-year-old Ayatollah was physically able to appear in public at the event.

Ayatollah Khamenei has been the leader of Iran for the past three decades and is one of the longest-serving rulers in the Middle East. It is not yet clear who might succeed the leader, but an assembly of experts is expected to convene to discuss his successor in the event of his death.