Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jul 6: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance on Saturday since the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, state media reported. The 86-year-old leader participated in a religious ceremony in Tehran to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, a revered figure in Shia Islam.
State television aired footage showing Khamenei dressed in black, greeting worshippers at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in central Tehran. The crowd responded with chants of support, raising their fists and shouting, “The blood in our veins for our leader!”
This marks Khamenei’s first public outing since Israel launched a series of surprise air strikes on June 13, triggering a brief but intense war. Prior to Saturday, his last appearance had been on June 11 during a meeting with parliament members. Since then, he had only appeared in a pre-recorded message last week.
The Israeli strikes, aimed at thwarting Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions—which Tehran denies—left over 900 dead in Iran, according to its judiciary. Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli cities claimed at least 28 lives, based on official figures.
The rare direct conflict came after years of proxy battles and shadow warfare between the two nations, further escalating tensions in the region.