The New York Times insists on the accuracy of its report on Khamenei's health condition
The American newspaper The New York Times emphasizes that last week's report about the illness and recent surgery of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was accurate and will not back down from it.
The New York Times wrote on Friday, October 2, that the sources who collaborated on the report on Ali Khamenei's illness and surgery and provided the news to the media were "senior sources."
Although the New York Times did not name its sources, it appears that the "senior sources" were figures close to the government leadership or other high-ranking sources in the chain of governance in Tehran.
After several days of conflicting reports from state media outlets, apparently in an attempt to prevent the spread of news of the regime's leader's illness, the New York Times reported on September 16, citing "four sources" that the reason for canceling his regular plans was an intestinal blockage and surgery.
The New York Times emphasized that Khamenei's condition has improved somewhat after the operation, but he has difficulty even sleeping continuously and cannot sit for long periods of time.
A few days before last week’s New York Times report, Abbas Abdi, a senior journalist in Tehran, had expressed his confidence in an article in the Etemad newspaper with unprecedented emphasis that the fate of the JCPOA negotiations had been entrusted to Ebrahim Raisi. He had not mentioned why.
It was after the American newspaper's report that Ali Khamenei appeared last week at both the Arbaeen ceremony and the meeting with "war veterans," but the leader of the Islamic Republic was not in the same mood as before. His voice had noticeably lost its usual power. By standing and speaking to the audience, he demonstrated that the New York Times' article about his inability to sit for a relatively long time was correct.
Ayatollah Khamenei had never stood up and addressed the people except during Friday prayers or at the General Staff of the Army or similar events. His standing up in front of the audience at the Husseiniyeh Jamaran is also considered a lack of respect for the "leader".
Khamenei's statements in recent days, which were apparently unintentionally uttered by him, such as repeating the phrase "even I feel tired" and "the youth should appreciate their youth," were interpreted as another sign of his sick inner self.
Mr. Khamenei was also seen in two recent speeches still wearing a mask, his face looking haggard and distressed compared to a few months ago.
The "intestinal obstruction" disease has been added to his prostate disease, for which he underwent surgery a few years ago.
"Intestinal obstruction," even in the case of surgery, is a life-threatening disease in any person of any age. Such an acute illness in an 83-year-old person is an indication of the possibility of a rapid decline in the person's life expectancy.
In its brief explanation of last week's report, the New York Times says that it had given Islamic Republic officials the opportunity to comment on the report prepared by the newspaper, but they have not responded to this invitation.
The New York Times then emphasized the accuracy of its report that on September 21, Ebrahim Raisi did not allow Farnaz Fasihi, the newspaper's Iranian-born reporter and author of the report on the Iranian leader's illness, to attend a meeting between journalists and senior editors from a number of American newspapers and media outlets with the Iranian president, and demanded an apology from the New York Times.
The deteriorating health of the regime's elderly leader, as Iranians have once again taken to the streets to protest in the past week, may play a decisive role in the fate of his regime, which has ruled for 33 years.
Source: Radio Farda
