In a significant public outing amidst the ongoing Iran-Israel tension, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed supporters at a mosque, showcasing national unity as the conflict persists.
Khamenei Emerges Publicly Amid Ongoing Conflict with Israel
Khamenei Emerges Publicly Amid Ongoing Conflict with Israel
Iran's Supreme Leader appears for the first time since Israel's military actions during the escalating conflict.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made his first public appearance since the outbreak of conflict with Israel, as reported by state media. Footage aired on state television on Saturday captures Khamenei engaging with worshippers in a mosque just before the Shia festival of Ashura. This marks a poignant moment as his last significant public communications were recorded video messages made during the ongoing hostilities that began on June 13, during which notable Iranian military leaders and nuclear specialists perished.
Israel's sudden attacks targeted various nuclear and military facilities in Iran, provoking retaliatory aerial assaults from the Iranian military. Over the course of the 12-day conflict, rumors stirred about Khamenei's potential seclusion in a bunker, enhanced by his limited visibility. On Saturday, however, he was met with fervent joy from supporters who were eager to see him on television again. A notable moment included Khamenei encouraging senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi to sing the patriotic anthem “O Iran,” a tune that gained traction throughout the conflict.
The footage, filmed at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque, reflected an atmosphere of collective enthusiasm among the audience. Iranian media outlets are now inviting citizens to share their reactions in video format, signifying an effort to rally national sentiments during a sensitive period of mourning observed during the month of Muharram, culminating in Ashura, which this year occurs on July 6.
In a pre-recorded message aired on June 26, Khamenei stood firm against calls for surrender from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. intervention, marked by military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, involved over 125 aircraft targeting major facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The judicial reports indicate a troubling casualty figure of more than 900 lives lost in this intense military engagement with Israel.
Israel's sudden attacks targeted various nuclear and military facilities in Iran, provoking retaliatory aerial assaults from the Iranian military. Over the course of the 12-day conflict, rumors stirred about Khamenei's potential seclusion in a bunker, enhanced by his limited visibility. On Saturday, however, he was met with fervent joy from supporters who were eager to see him on television again. A notable moment included Khamenei encouraging senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi to sing the patriotic anthem “O Iran,” a tune that gained traction throughout the conflict.
The footage, filmed at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque, reflected an atmosphere of collective enthusiasm among the audience. Iranian media outlets are now inviting citizens to share their reactions in video format, signifying an effort to rally national sentiments during a sensitive period of mourning observed during the month of Muharram, culminating in Ashura, which this year occurs on July 6.
In a pre-recorded message aired on June 26, Khamenei stood firm against calls for surrender from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. intervention, marked by military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, involved over 125 aircraft targeting major facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The judicial reports indicate a troubling casualty figure of more than 900 lives lost in this intense military engagement with Israel.
