According to reports from Iranian state media, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attended a religious event on Saturday, July 5th, marking his first public appearance since the outbreak of the Iran-Israel conflict last month.
On Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei held a ceremony at a mosque near his office and residence in the capital Tehran to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. Iranian officials, including the Speaker of the Parliament, attended the event, which was typically held under tight security.
A video aired by Iranian state media on Saturday showed dozens of people participating in the ceremony for the Ashura festival. As Ayatollah Khamenei entered a government hall, those present stood up and chanted, after which he waved and greeted the crowds chanting slogans before taking his seat.
During the 12-day war that began on June 13th, Ayatollah Khamenei avoided public appearances and instead released pre-recorded speeches.
Reports earlier indicated that Ayatollah Khamenei had been staying at a “secure location” since the start of the 12-day aerial combat between Iran and Israel. Israeli airstrikes during the conflict resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.
According to Agence France-Presse, Ayatollah Khamenei’s avoidance of public appearances during the war suggested that the Iranian leader, who holds ultimate authority over all state affairs, was under tight security.
Iran has acknowledged over nine hundred deaths and thousands of injuries during the conflict. The country also confirmed severe damage to its nuclear facilities and refused entry to UN nuclear inspectors.
In a pre-recorded speech broadcast on Iranian state television on June 26th, Ayatollah Khamenei vowed that Iran would not surrender despite calls from US President Trump for surrender.