Iranian Official Denies Rumors of Decline in Khamenei’s Health

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (AFP)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (AFP)
TT

Iranian Official Denies Rumors of Decline in Khamenei’s Health

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (AFP)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (AFP)

An official close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied rumors on social media on Monday that the 81-year-old's health was deteriorating.

"By the grace of God and with the good prayers of devotees, the gentleman (Khamenei) is in good health and is busy vigorously carrying out his plans according to his routine," the official, Mehdi Fazaeli, said on Twitter.

Fazaeli has worked in an office publishing Khamenei's work.

His tweet was also reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.

The statement about Khamenei's health appeared to be a response to reports by several news organizations, which referred to a tweet by a journalist who said Khamenei had transferred duties to his son because of his health.

Khamenei has served as supreme leader since 1989, with the final say on all state matters. His health has been the subject of speculation for years.

A security official in Israel, which closely follows events in its enemy Iran, told Reuters: "We are aware of these rumors, and regard them as rumors only."

The Tehran bourse's index fell 10,000 points, or about 0.7% on Monday.

The state news agency IRNA blamed the decline on a "rumor widely exchanged on social media", without giving details. But news websites, including bultannews.com, said the market was reacting to the rumors about Khamenei's health.



India’s Navy Launches Submarine, Warships to Guard against China’s Presence in Indian Ocean

A view of the Indian Navy's three frontline vessels during the commissioning ceremony in Mumbai, India, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
A view of the Indian Navy's three frontline vessels during the commissioning ceremony in Mumbai, India, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
TT

India’s Navy Launches Submarine, Warships to Guard against China’s Presence in Indian Ocean

A view of the Indian Navy's three frontline vessels during the commissioning ceremony in Mumbai, India, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
A view of the Indian Navy's three frontline vessels during the commissioning ceremony in Mumbai, India, 15 January 2025. (EPA)

India's navy on Wednesday simultaneously launched a submarine, a destroyer and a frigate built at a state-run shipyard, underscoring the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean region through which 95% of the country's trade moves amid a strong Chinese presence.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Atlantic Ocean’s importance has shifted to the Indian Ocean region, which is becoming a center of international power rivalry.

“India is giving the biggest importance to making its navy powerful to protect its interests,” he said.

“The commissioning of three major naval combatants marks a significant leap forward in realizing India’s vision of becoming a global leader in defense manufacturing and maritime security,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while commissioning the vessels at the state-run Mazagon dockyard in Mumbai.

The situation in the Indian Ocean region is challenging with the Chinese navy, India’s main rival, growing exponentially, said Rahul Bedi, a defense analyst.

Bedi said that the INS Vagsheer submarine, the sixth among a French license-built Kalvari (Scorpene)-class conventional diesel-electric submarines, is aimed at replacing aging Indian underwater platforms and plugging serious capability gaps in existing ones. India now has a total of 16 submarines.

The P75 Scorpene submarine project represents India’s growing expertise in submarine construction in collaboration with the Naval Group of France, Bedi said.

India’s defense ministry is expected to conclude a deal for three additional Scorpene submarines to be built in India during Modi’s likely visit to Paris next month to attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, the first of these boats, according to the Indian navy, is only likely to be commissioned by 2031.

India commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier in 2022 to counter regional rival China’s much more extensive and growing fleet and expand its indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

The INS Vikrant, whose name is a Sanskrit word for “powerful” or “courageous,” is India’s second operational aircraft carrier. It joins the Soviet-era INS Vikramaditya, which India purchased from Russia in 2004 to defend the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.