Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reemerged in public on Saturday for the first time since the recent war with Israel, attending an Ashura ceremony in Tehran. His appearance, after days of silence and speculation, carries strong symbolic weight as the country confronts the aftermath of a deadly twelve-day conflict.

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The ceremony was held at Tehran’s Khomeini Mosque on the eve of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Clad in black as a symbol of mourning, Khamenei was joined by high-ranking officials including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

State media aired footage of Khamenei entering the mosque, waving to the crowd, which stood in unison as he took his seat. While he made no public remarks during the event, his presence ended a notable absence since hostilities broke out on June 13.

During the twelve-day conflict, Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military, nuclear, and energy infrastructure, as well as residential neighborhoods in Tehran. At least 30 senior Iranian military commanders and 11 nuclear scientists were reportedly killed. Iran retaliated with waves of missile attacks, including a strike on a U.S. airbase in Qatar.

A ceasefire was announced on June 24 by U.S. President Donald Trump. Two days later, Khamenei appeared in a pre-recorded televised message, declaring that Iran had “crushed” Israel and delivered “a slap to America’s face.” He warned both the U.S. and Israel against launching further attacks on Iranian soil.

Throughout the conflict, the U.S. bombed three key Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump later addressed Khamenei directly on social media, claiming that the U.S. knew his location but had “no plans to kill him — at least for now.”

According to official figures, at least 935 people were killed during the war, including 38 children in Iran and 28 in Israel.

Khamenei’s reappearance silences rumors about his health and reinforces his authority following one of the most intense escalations in the region in recent years. His decision to appear during Ashura — a time of collective mourning and resilience in Shiite tradition — sends a deliberate message of defiance and continuity.

The move also comes as Iran seeks to consolidate internal support and signal strength to its regional adversaries, amid global calls from the Global South for de-escalation and respect for national sovereignty.

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