Iran official dismisses rumors of Khamenei’s deteriorating health

An Iranian official described as close to the supreme leader has denied rumors of the failing health of the country’s top leader, reports say.
“May it blind the enemies’ eyes that with the grace of God and the prayers of devotees, (Khamenei) is in good health and is carrying out his plans following the usual schedule,” said Mehdi Fazaeli said on Twitter about media reports.
Fazaeli, according to the media, is a member of the office for the publication of Khamanei’s works.
Rumors of 81-year old supreme leader’s failing health condition swirled on social media and foreign media. Iranian private news agency Tasnim brushed aside the rumors arguing they were made by a “fake” tweet making the claim on an Arabic account described as being “owned by a separatist individual based in London.”
Khamenei was last seen publicly, on television, on Nov. 24 when he met Iran’s top officials.
State TV, The New Arab reports, denied Monday reports of a meeting of the Assembly of Experts, an 88-strong body of elected clerics responsible for appointing and monitoring the supreme leader.
The state-run media said a picture circulating on social media, purportedly of the news channel reporting such a meeting, was fake.