Iran's foreign minister confirmed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still alive
The statement was made in an exclusive interview with NBC News on February 28, 2026
The confirmation came amid speculation following U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran
This addresses concerns about stability in Iran's leadership during regional tensions
📖 Full Retelling
Iran's foreign minister confirmed on February 28, 2026, that the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still alive 'as far as I know,' addressing recent speculation about his health following U.S. and Israeli strikes in the region. The confirmation came during an exclusive interview with NBC News, as the minister addressed international concerns about the 87-year-old Ayatollah's well-being. Recent U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran had fueled rumors about Khamenei's condition, with some sources suggesting he might have been incapacitated or even killed in the attacks. The foreign minister's statement aimed to quell these rumors and project stability within Iran's leadership during a time of heightened regional tensions. This confirmation comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Western powers, with President Trump announcing 'major combat operations in Iran' and joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military facilities.
🏷️ Themes
Leadership uncertainty, Regional tensions, Health speculation
Cabinet ministry in charge of a country's foreign affairs
In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support, including...
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. His tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years, makes him the longest-serving head of...
# Iran
**Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...
# NBC News
**NBC News** is the news division of the American terrestrial broadcast television network **NBC**. Headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, it is a primary arm of the **NBCUniversal News Group**, a subsidiary of **Comcast**.
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