Iran’s Supreme Leader Appears in Public Following Israeli Attack

Iran’s Supreme Leader Appears in Public Following Israeli Attack

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in public for the first time since Israeli strikes on Iran last month. The conflict lasted nearly two weeks and resulted in the deaths of several senior military officials.

Khamenei, 86, attended a Shia ceremony on Saturday in Tehran to mark the Muslim month of Muharram. State media broadcast video of the event, showing him meeting with attendees.

Since the Israeli offensive began on June 13, Khamenei had addressed the nation through three pre-recorded video messages. His absence from public events led to speculation about his safety.

The recent conflict was the first instance since 1989, when Khamenei assumed power, that he had not appeared in public during a period of war.

In his most recent message on June 26, two days after the ceasefire, Khamenei stated that Iran had achieved its objectives against the US and Israel, and described Israel as having been significantly affected by Iran’s counterstrikes.

During Saturday’s ceremony at the Hosseinieh, a venue for Shia Muslim commemorations and public meetings, Khamenei requested the eulogist to recite “Ey Iran,” a song with national themes. The lyrics were modified to include additional religious references. In recent weeks, Iranian leaders have emphasized nationalist sentiments related to the conflict with Israel, differing from their usual focus on religious narratives.

The location of the Iranian leader during the past few weeks has not been disclosed.

US President Donald Trump previously stated that he was aware of Khamenei’s location and had prevented an Israeli attempt to assassinate him. Iranian officials responded by describing such statements as threats that could be considered acts of state terrorism.

For Iranians experiencing uncertainty since the ceasefire, the leader’s public appearance may be interpreted as a sign of continuity.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that it was "the most beautiful image I saw after arriving in Brazil," where he was attending a summit of the Brics bloc of developing nations, which includes Iran.

Khamenei did not attend religious ceremonies for commanders killed in the Israeli strikes, which is a change from previous practices. For several decades, he had led funeral prayers for senior military and political figures, including Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US air strike in 2020, and former president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2023.

The 12-day conflict ended with a ceasefire on June 24. Nearly 1,000 people, including more than 140 women and children, were killed in Israeli attacks in Tehran and other Iranian cities. In Israel, approximately 28 people died during the conflict.