HAVANA — Venezuela’s former vice president, Elias Jaua, said Sunday that he met with aging revolutionary icon Fidel Castro for five hours and showed photos of the encounter, quashing persistent rumors that the former Cuban leader was on his deathbed or had suffered a massive stroke.

Jaua also confirmed that the 86-year-old retired Cuban president personally accompanied him to the Hotel Nacional after their meeting Saturday, in which they talked about politics, history, culture, and tourism.