Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is in good health apart from an injured knee and “only a fracture” behind his ear, an aide has said.
Mr Khamenei has not been seen in public, or in propaganda photos, since he was chosen in early March to succeed his assassinated father Ali Khamenei.
With US media reporting that Mr Khamenei's condition is rather more serious, involving a prosthetic leg and several operations, there are doubts over whether he is in charge in Tehran.
Iranian commentary on the matter was provided by Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the supreme leader's office, who told the Fars news agency that Mr Khamenei had been hit by an explosion.
“His knee and back were slightly injured. Of course, the damage to his back has healed during this time and his knee will heal soon, and he is in perfect health,” he said.
“The issue that the enemies were raising about the damage to his forehead is nonsense. It is only a fracture behind his ear that is concealed when he wears his turban and has been treated. Therefore, he is in perfect health.”
In recent days, Iran's official news agencies have reported on Mr Khamenei meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the country's armed forces, suggesting he is stepping up the performance his duties. They also frequently carry written messages purportedly from Mr Khamenei.
But they have stayed silent on Mr Khamenei's whereabouts. Neither have they published any images of the new leader.
Mr Khamenei's absence from view has led to speculation that he is incapacitated or is in hiding to avoid his father's fate. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that any new leader would be an “unequivocal target”.
US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz suggested on Sunday that Mr Khamenei's injury was delaying peace talks. “I think part of it is that their leadership has been so devastated and so fractured, we know that the new ayatollah, the previous ayatollah's son, has been severely injured. He's in hiding, and he's incredibly difficult to get a hold of,” Mr Waltz said in an interview with ABC's This Week.
Ali Khamenei made occasional appearances at the time of last June's 12-day war, although analysis of the images raised questions about his whereabouts. In peacetime, he regularly appeared in public.
He was killed in an air raid on February 28 – without, according to the Israeli military, having made use of an underground bunker prepared for him in Tehran. Mojtaba Khamenei was elected to succeed him by the 88-member Assembly of Experts.
With senior generals also killed, Iran's armed forces have turned to a “mosaic defence” strategy that devolves power to local commanders, raising questions about how much authority Mr Khamenei is exercising.
The uncertain command was made clear when Mr Pezeshkian said forces had been ordered to stop attacks on neighbours unless Iran was attacked first. Drone and missile strikes on Gulf countries have continued every day since then.
