Iranian President Pezeshkian Asserts Himself as Regime Leader in Letter to Americans

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian – who is technically subordinate to “supreme leader” Mojtaba Khamenei – published a letter on Wednesday evening directly addressing the American people, a move apparently intended to portray himself as the most authoritative leader in the country at the moment.

The content of the letter regurgitated years of Iranian regime talking points: denying that Iran posed a threat to any nation before the current conflict, blaming the government of Israel for all turmoil in the Middle East, and falsely claiming his terror regime had graced the Iranian people with an improved lifestyle. Beyond the text, however, the message is notable as Khamenei has not been seen in public since Iranian state media announced that he had been chosen to succeed his father, longtime dictator Ali Khamenei, as “supreme leader.” As a result, rumors have circulated globally that the younger Khamenei is severely incapacitated or potentially dead. Pezeshkian,