Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first on-camera appearance on Saturday since the start of last month’s brief but intense air war with Israel, state television showed.
Video released by the broadcaster captured the 85-year-old cleric walking into a government hall where dozens of worshippers were marking Ashura, the holiest day of the Shiite calendar. The audience rose and chanted religious slogans as Khamenei took his seat.
The sighting ends nearly three weeks of speculation over the leader’s whereabouts. Iranian media had reported that Khamenei was moved to a “secure location” after the June 13–25 exchange of strikes that killed several senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear scientists.
During the fighting Khamenei addressed the nation only through pre-recorded messages, the last of which aired on June 26. In that speech he vowed Tehran would “never surrender” to pressure from the United States or its allies.
No explanation was given for Saturday’s change in security posture, and state outlets published no new remarks from the supreme leader beyond the images of his attendance.