Mojtaba Khamenei

"When you have an elderly and veteran leader, there is certainly an advantage in that," said Golan. "Of course, he was already 86 years old."

Speaking on Monday after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity, rather than offer assurances of future nuclear drawdowns.

Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir also denied the claim that Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had recommended his son to serve as his successor.

"The implementation of the policies is in the hands of the administration and the government, but the consultations and the directions come from there [Khamenei]," Pezeshkian said. 

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Khamenei has not been seen since being appointed in March after the death of his father, and while written statements and messages have been issued in his name, many have doubts.

“We must, in accordance with the overwhelming majority of the people, end the war with honor so that we can rebuild the country, so that we can compensate for the damage done,” Hassan Rouhani said.

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Khamenei's message, issued to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, urged the rulers of the Gulf States to "identify their real enemy and understand the plans to confront it."