Iranian President Admits Contact With Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Is 'Very Difficult'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has become "very difficult at the moment," While characterizing the new leader as a source of strength amid mounting military and economic pressure on the country.

In an interview published on the Iranian president's official website, Pezeshkian stated that the United States and Israel killed Iran's previous supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on February 28 in an attempt to destabilize the Islamic Republic. He asserted the operation failed to achieve its objective.

"However, the country continued, and our (new) beloved leader was selected," Pezeshkian said. "Our new dear leader's presence is a very great strength for us to be able to continue this path, although communication with him is very difficult at the moment."

Pezeshkian characterized Iran's current circumstances as among the most severe in recent history, citing intensified banking sanctions, tighter restrictions on international financial transactions, a naval blockade, and ongoing warfare as evidence of the country's strain.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, was selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts in early March to become the country's new supreme leader.