Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that he had met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, marking the first official confirmation of direct contact between the two leaders since Khamenei's appointment on March 9, 2026, after the death of his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, in a military strike at the onset of the West Asia war. Pezeshkian offered no details on the date or location of the meeting but described Khamenei as possessing a clear vision and a humble demeanor in a state television broadcast.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has not been seen in public since his appointment, issuing only written statements despite the widespread display of his portraits across Iranian cities. His father, Ali Khamenei, 86, led the Islamic Republic for over three decades before being killed in the initial wave of strikes that triggered the broader regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and U.S. forces.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, formally selected Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, a position with ultimate authority over Iran's political and military apparatus, succeeding a lineage that began with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. The lack of public appearances has fueled domestic and international speculation about the new leader's health and governance style.

Iranian state media have maintained that the leadership transition is proceeding in accordance with constitutional and religious protocols. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.