Iranian ambassador to Tunisia says new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is ‘safe and in good health'

Описание: (12 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tunis, Tunisia – 12 March 2026
1. Various of Iranian Ambassador to Tunisia Mir Massoud Hosseinian singing Iranian national anthem at Iranian Embassy
2. Mid of Hosseinian showing photo of civilian infrastructure damaged by bombing
3. Mid of Hosseinian speaking during briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mir Massoud Hosseinian, Iranian Ambassador to Tunisia:
“Yes, it is possible that he was wounded, but he is safe and in good health, and what was said by our ambassador in Cyprus was cut and taken out of context. The journalists took only some sentences.”
5. Wide of briefing
6. Close of hanging portrait of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
7. Close of portrait of late IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mir Massoud Hosseinian, Iranian Ambassador to Tunisia:
“Now is the time for defending the homeland and stopping the war, and not negotiations. We were previously exposed to failure in the negotiations. We used to conduct negotiations every three months. Now we have no reason at all for negotiations. Now we want to defend ourselves.”
9. Wide of mourning banner at embassy entrance reading (Arabic) "In memory of slain leader Ali Khamenei"

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ariana, Tunisia – 12 March 2026
10. Various of fish market
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamda Al-Gharbi, fish seller:
“How many wars have happened before? The Gulf War happened in 1991, many wars, and Tunisia remained steadfast. It will never affect us at all. If we have money we will stock up on our necessities and sugar and oil will come, and if we do not have money we will just keep watching.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tunis, Tunisia – 12 March 2026
12. Wide of Iranian Embassy entrance with mourning banner for Khamenei
13. Close of Iranian flag
STORYLINE:
Iran’s ambassador to Tunisia mourned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a press conference Thursday and said the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the slain leader’s son, was “safe and in good health” following reports that he had been wounded in a strike at the start of the Iran war.

He also said Iran wanted to defend itself and end the war rather than wait for negotiations.

“We used to conduct negotiations every three months. Now we have no reason at all for negotiations. Now we want to defend ourselves,” Ambassador Mir Massoud Hosseinian said at the Iranian embassy.

As he spoke to journalists, Hosseinian displayed images of damaged buildings in Iran.

Also on Thursday, the younger Khamenei vowed in his first public statement since being chosen to succeed his father to continue attacks on Gulf Arab countries and to use the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel.

In the statement read by a state TV news anchor, he vowed to avenge those killed in the war, including in a strike on a school that killed over 165 people.

Tunisian citizens have shown support for Iran, demonstrating in Tunis, the capital, last weekend against U.S. and Israeli military action.

From nearby Ariana, Tunisia, citizens were undeterred by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“How many wars have happened before? The Gulf War happened in 1991, many wars, and Tunisia remained steadfast. It will never affect us at all,” said fish seller Hamda Al-Gharbi.

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