No Audio, No Video: Doubts Cloud Iran Leader’s Message

A new statement attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been released without any accompanying video or audio, raising fresh questions about its authenticity.

The lengthy message, read on state television to mark the Persian New Year, is the second major communication attributed to Khamenei since his reported appointment nearly two weeks ago. Like the earlier one, it was delivered without any visual or audio confirmation of the leader himself.

In the statement, Khamenei accused the United States and Israel of staging “false flag” attacks in Turkey and Oman, while calling for unity within Iran.

“I also emphasize that the attacks carried out in Turkey and Oman – both countries with which we have appropriate relations … were in no way conducted by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic or by any other forces of the Resistance Front. This is a trick by the Zionist enemy,” the statement read.

The statement also claimed that Khamenei had anonymously toured the streets of Tehran in a taxi to gauge public opinion.

“For a period of time, for example, I would ride with you anonymously in a taxi – arranged at my own request – through the streets of Tehran and listen to your words, and I considered this kind of sampling better than many surveys,” it added.

However, Khamenei has not made any public appearance since his reported emergence as Supreme Leader, and it remains unclear when or how such visits could have taken place.

The message was accompanied by still images said to be of Khamenei, although their authenticity has not been independently verified.

In a separate, shorter statement issued earlier on Friday following the killing of Iran’s Intelligence Minister in Tehran, Khamenei was quoted as saying:

“Security may be denied to internal and external enemies and granted to all our compatriots.”

The continued absence of verifiable video or audio recordings has fueled speculation over the credibility and origin of the statements attributed to the new Iranian leader.