Iran's President meets Mojtaba Khamenei in 'darkened' car, later asks: 'Was it really him?'

Citing sources in the president's office, the report said Pezeshkian was driven to an undisclosed location in Tehran, transferred to a commercial vehicle with heavily tinted windows, and ushered into a dark interior where he could hear—but not see—the supreme leader.

The interaction reportedly lasted only a few minutes, after which Pezeshkian was asked to leave. Khamenei's security personnel allegedly did not permit the two leaders to shake hands.

According to the report, the president later asked aides whether the voice he had heard truly belonged to Mojtaba Khamenei.

Meeting reportedly followed resignation threats

The report claimed the meeting was secured only after Pezeshkian repeatedly requested an audience with the supreme leader and threatened to resign over policy disagreements.

Sources told the publication that Khamenei's office eventually agreed to a meeting as a "concession" but refused to hold it at the supreme leader's official residence, breaking with normal protocol.

Following the encounter, Pezeshkian reportedly sought a second meeting at Khamenei's residence, but the request was denied.

President had earlier described meeting as cordial

The reported account contrasts sharply with Pezeshkian's public remarks in May, when he told representatives of trade associations that he had spent two-and-a-half hours with Mojtaba Khamenei in a "cordial atmosphere."

More recently, however, the president acknowledged that access to the supreme leader had become increasingly difficult.

"It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by AFP.

Despite those remarks, the president defended Khamenei, saying he had always been met with "kindness and very sound logic."

"Unfortunately, the current situation allows some malicious people to describe him differently and to present a different image of him," he said.

Reports point to widening power struggle

According to media reports cited in the article, Pezeshkian has repeatedly threatened to resign over what he described as his administration being sidelined on national security and foreign policy decisions.

Israeli media outlet Channel 14 claimed Mojtaba Khamenei issued the president a "final ultimatum" and backed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Ahmad Vahidi on key decisions involving negotiations and the ongoing conflict, further limiting the president's influence over strategic policymaking.

Supreme leader remains largely out of public view

Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly not appeared publicly for nearly five months since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following the latter's reported death in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026.

Since assuming power, the supreme leader has released only written statements, which have been read by state media over still photographs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said in July that he had not personally seen Mojtaba Khamenei during that period and that only a limited number of people had met him.

Adding to the speculation, US President Donald Trump recently claimed in an interview with Fox News that Mojtaba Khamenei was "90 percent gone," though he did not elaborate or provide evidence to support the assertion.

Note: Several claims in this report—including the circumstances of the meeting, the alleged resignation threats, and the reported ultimatum—originate from media reports citing unnamed sources and have not been independently verified.