Iran’s highest leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has appeared in public for the first time since the recent conflict with Israel. The 12-day clash began on June 13, when several top Iranian military officers and nuclear scientists were killed. Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel, but during the fighting, Khamenei stayed out of public view. He shared only three video messages, which led to speculation that he might have been hiding in a secret bunker.
On the day before the holy day of Ashura, Saturday, Khamenei was seen attending a religious event at a mosque in Tehran. State media gave wide coverage to his live presence, showing supporters expressing strong emotions during the broadcast. The event took place at the Imam Khomeini Mosque, named after the founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic.
In a video from the event, Khamenei asked senior Shia religious leader Mahmoud Karimi to perform a patriotic song. This song gained special popularity during the recent clashes with Israel.
This public appearance is notable as it comes after a tense period where Iran’s leader was largely absent from public events during the conflict. The renewed visibility of Khamenei may signal Iran’s intent to show strength and unity after the recent fighting.