**Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after a prolonged silence during the Israeli offensive, addresses worshippers at a mosque, revealing sentiment shifts within Iran.**
**Khamenei Makes First Public Appearance Amid Ongoing Israel-Iran Conflict**
**Khamenei Makes First Public Appearance Amid Ongoing Israel-Iran Conflict**
**Supreme Leader's re-emergence coincides with significant historical mourning for Shia Muslims, as the war escalates.**
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stepped into the public eye for the first time since conflict erupted between Iran and Israel on June 13, as reported by state media. His appearance occurred during a ceremony at a mosque on Saturday, a day before the significant Shia observance of Ashura. The last time Khamenei was seen was in a series of recorded addresses made during the ongoing conflict, which has seen casualties among high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists as a result of Israeli strikes on Iran’s facilities.
The recent war began when Israel executed an unexpected attack on Iran's nuclear and military sites, prompting a series of retaliatory strikes from Iran towards Israel. Following a tumultuous 12-day war, Khamenei delivered several video messages; however, speculation about his safety and potential hiding in a bunker had arisen during this period. His reappearance on Iranian state television sparked celebrations from supporters who expressed their relief and joy at seeing their leader.
The footage, which aired prominently on state media, depicted Khamenei at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque, engaging with senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi as he encouraged a rendition of the anthem “O Iran,” which gained prominence amid the current hostilities. Iranian television has also called on citizens to submit their video reactions to Khamenei’s public return.
Symbolically, Khamenei's appearance comes during Muharram, a period marked by mourning for Shia Muslims, and is particularly significant as Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Hossein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, approaches on July 6. Earlier, on June 26, he declared during a pre-taped speech that Iran would not capitulate to Israeli pressures, even with the notable involvement of the United States, which launched airstrikes on June 22 targeting critical Iranian nuclear facilities, contributing to a rising death toll reported by Iran’s judiciary of over 900 individuals.
