Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, re-emerged in public on Saturday evening for the first time since the beginning of the war against Israel over 12 days ago. His public absence had incited widespread speculation about his health and the potential threats against his life, a situation without precedent in his three-decade tenure.
Despite previously issuing a defiant video statement following U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Khamenei's long hiatus raised concerns. After weeks of sheltering in a bunker, he participated in an Ashura ceremony held at his residence. Attendees expressed their surprise as he arrived wearing his traditional black clerical robe and checkered kaffiyeh. The crowd, featuring hundreds of men and women, rose to their feet in homage, chanting "Heydar, Heydar," a reference significant in Shiite tradition.
During the event, Khamenei was seen acknowledging the crowd but refrained from delivering any speeches. Positioned uniquely on a chair among prominent officials, including the vice president and speaker of the Parliament, he seemed to command attention, yet his previous messages after the attacks reflected a struggle for clarity, characterized by a raspy voice and apparent weakness.
These events unfold against a backdrop of ongoing military conflict, heightening focus on Khamenei’s leadership as Iran grapples with both external aggression and internal challenges.
