INFO:

Days of silence from Iran’s top leader triggered intense speculation after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei missed a key Air Force ceremony, with his grandson appearing instead. Rumours of illness and internal turmoil spread fast. Then came the response: a forceful televised address meant to silence doubt and project authority. Framing unity and popular will as Iran’s true power, Khamenei rejected intimidation and praised national resolve. The timing—just ahead of revolution anniversary celebrations—underscored a deliberate message of control amid rising tensions at home and abroad.