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Tehran, Iran - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made his first public appearance since the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, attending a ceremony at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque on Saturday, state media reported. The event, broadcast on Iranian state television, occurred ahead of the Shia festival of Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hossein, and falls on 6 July this year.
Khamenei, dressed in black robes, was seen greeting worshippers and encouraging senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi to sing the patriotic anthem "O Iran," which gained popularity during the recent conflict. State media aired footage of supporters celebrating his return to the public eye, with outlets inviting viewers to submit videos sharing their reactions. The Supreme Leader's last appearance was a recorded address following a ceasefire on 24 June, which ended the war that began on 13 June. During the conflict, Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting Iranian retaliatory aerial strikes. The US joined the conflict on 22 June, targeting three nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—with 125 military aircraft. Iran's judiciary reported over 900 deaths during the 12-day war. In his post-ceasefire address, Khamenei claimed "victory," asserting that US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities yielded "no achievements." US President Donald Trump refuted this, stating the sites were "obliterated" and claiming he had spared Khamenei from "a very ugly and ignominious death." The CIA director later confirmed that Iran's nuclear facilities were "severely damaged." Khamenei's public appearance coincides with the Islamic month of Muharram, a period of mourning traditionally attended by the Supreme Leader. His emergence follows speculation during the conflict that he was in hiding, having delivered three video messages, including one on 26 June. The war has left significant impacts, with a former Mossad official detailing how Israel used advanced technology to target Iran's military elite. Meanwhile, regional developments continue, with Hamas reporting a loss of control over much of Gaza and Israel engaging in ceasefire talks despite disputes over Hamas's demands.
