TEHRAN, Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance on Saturday since the war between Iran and Israel erupted 12 days ago, attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura in the capital city of Tehran.
Khamenei, 86, was seen waving and nodding to a crowd of supporters who rose to their feet as he entered a mosque near his residence and office. The event was heavily secured, with Iranian officials, including the parliament speaker in attendance. State television aired footage of the ceremony, but did not broadcast any public remarks from Khamenei.
His absence from the public eye during the conflict had fueled speculation that the Supreme Leader had been moved to a secure location or bunker, although this was never officially confirmed by Iranian authorities.
The war began after Israel launched preemptive strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, military leaders, and scientific infrastructure, claiming that Tehran was advancing toward the development of atomic weapons. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted. The missile barrage killed 28 people and caused widespread damage.
The United States became directly involved in the conflict by striking three key nuclear sites in Iran. In response, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued warnings to Khamenei via social media, stating that while the U.S. knew his location, there were no immediate plans to assassinate him, “at least for now.”
Following a ceasefire, Khamenei issued a prerecorded statement on June 26, declaring that Iran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar. He warned against further attacks from either the United States or Israel.
Iran has confirmed the deaths of over 900 people and thousands more injured during the conflict. Significant damage to its nuclear infrastructure has also been acknowledged, though Tehran has denied access to international inspectors from the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On Wednesday, Iran formally suspended cooperation with the agency, limiting its ability to monitor Iran’s nuclear program.
The extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, including whether enriched uranium or centrifuges were moved before the strikes, remains unknown. It also remains uncertain whether Iran is still open to negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear ambitions.
Saturday’s ceremony, held by Khamenei, commemorated the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, a central figure in Shiite Islam. The event featured red flags symbolizing Hussein’s blood and black mourning garments, while men engaged in traditional chest-beating and self-flagellation as a demonstration of religious fervor. Some participants sprayed water on mourners to provide relief from the intense heat.
Shiites comprise over 10% of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. In Shiite-majority Iran, Ashoura holds deep religious and cultural significance, symbolizing sacrifice, resistance, and identity amid centuries of Islamic division.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
