Iranian senior official appears on screen, despite both Iran and Israel reporting his death

Iranian state media on Saturday broadcast an interview saying it was Ali Shamkhani a close associate of Iran's Supreme Leader, who had previously been reported dead by both Israeli and Iranian authorities.

And as it says CNNThe mystery grew about Shamkhan's fate in days after he was reported dead following Israel's June 13th attacks in Iran.

Last Friday, many Iranian media involved I The RNA, Tasnim and Fars claimed that Shamkhan had not died, but rather was severely injured and was hospitalised” in the attack.

However, they did not publish new pictures of him.

Shamkhan later appeared in photographs of coverage of Iranian state media Saturday's funeral for those killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel.

On the same day, the Iranian state news agency IRIB broadcast what it called Shamkhan's first television interview with Iranian state media since the attack.

CNN stresses that he cannot independently verify his identity or the date on which interviews are recorded.

As the media point out, Shamkhan appears carrying a walking stick and using a breathing device.

He refers to an Israeli attack on his home, saying he was trapped by the ruins for three hours after the attack.

I said my morning prayer while I was under the ruins of”, he was quoted as saying.

IRIB also published images of what he said was Shamkhan's house, transformed into concrete and broken armor.

I thought at first it was an earthquake. But when I heard the sound of vehicles, I realized it wasn't”, he said in the interview, adding that he suffered internal injuries in the attack and that his chest cage was broken.

I know why they targeted me, but I can't say”, he added. /Periscopi/