TEHRAN – On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the start of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. He attended a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura.
Khamenei’s absence during the conflict hinted at heightened security measures for him, as he holds the ultimate authority over all state matters in Iran. Iranian state television aired footage of Khamenei acknowledging the cheering crowd with waves and nods as he entered. He took a seat at a mosque located near his office and residence in Tehran, the nation’s capital.
There was no immediate coverage of any public address by him. High-ranking Iranian officials, including the Parliament speaker, were reportedly in attendance, and the event was heavily secured as customary.
The 86-year-old had spent the war in a bunker as threats to his life escalated.
After the U.S. inserted itself into the war by bombing three key nuclear sites in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump sent warnings via social media to Khamenei that the U.S. knew where he was but had no plans to kill him, “at least for now.”
On June 26, shortly after a ceasefire began, Khamenei made his first public statement in days, saying in a pre-recorded statement that Tehran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar, and warning against further attacks by the U.S. or Israel on Iran.
Trump replied, in remarks to reporters and on social media: “Look, you’re a man of great faith. A man who’s highly respected in his country. You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell.”
Iran has acknowledged the deaths of more than 900 people in the war, as well as thousands of injured. It also has confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities, and has denied access to the sites for inspectors with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Israel also targeted defense systems, high-ranking military officials and atomic scientists.
In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of them intercepted, but those that got through killed 28 people and caused damage in many areas.
On Saturday, Khamenei hosted a remembrance of the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein.
Shiites represent over 10% of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims, and they view Hussein as the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein’s death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, created a rift in Islam and continues to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity.
In predominantly Shiite Iran, red flags represented Hussein’s blood and black funeral tents and clothes represented mourning. Processions of chest-beating and self-flagellating men demonstrated fervor. Some sprayed water over the mourners in the intense heat.
___
Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran contributed.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
