During his talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned a message from Tehran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Russian state media RT reported.
“Last week I received a message from the Supreme Leader of Iran,” Putin was heard saying in a video published by the media agency.
‘Last week I received a message from the Supreme Leader of Iran’ — Vladimir Putin begins meeting with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi https://t.co/YXJbXpqiag pic.twitter.com/5kVY9ENLjY
— RT (@RT_com) April 27, 2026
This is the first time a foreign leader has mentioned about being in touch with the new Iranian Supreme Leader, who has been rumoured dead multiple times before. Since his appointment to the post following the death of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba has not made a public appearance.
The rumours about Mojtaba being dead began circulating in March and April, shortly after he was appointed as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Some reports have also suggested that he has been seriously injured, with access to him only limited to doctors and a medical team.
However, Putin’s claim of receiving the alleged message from Mojtaba comes as an assurance that he is, in fact, alive and in a condition to send messages.
Iran’s Araghchi Meets Vladimir Putin
Putin on Monday met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and assured that Moscow will do everything to help secure peace in the Middle East.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi during their Saint Petersburg meeting.
The Russian President also showered praise on “how courageously” its people are fighting for their “independence and sovereignty,” TASS news agency reported.
“Russia, just like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship,” the Kremlin chief added.
Earlier, following his arrival in Saint Petersburg, Araghchi had blamed Washington for the failure of the talks between Iran and the US to pave way for the war to end as the ceasfire between the two countries still holds.
“Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans’ approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran’s official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.