Ayatollah Khamenei seen in public for first time since escalation with Israel

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made his first public appearance since the onset of his country’s conflict with Israel, as reported by state media. This notable emergence on Saturday, July 5, marks a return to public visibility for the 86-year-old leader, whose absence had been observed amid increasing regional tensions. State television footage showed Khamenei greeting worshippers at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in central Tehran during a ceremony held on the eve of Ashura, a deeply significant Shia festival.

Khamenei was shown on stage, dressed in black, while the crowd, with raised fists, chanted slogans such as “The blood in our veins for our leader!"

Having been in power since 1989 and possessing the final say on all state matters, Khamenei had not been seen in public since before Israel launched a series of unexpected air strikes on June 13. His last recorded public engagement before the conflict was a meeting with parliament members two days prior to the Israeli strikes.