Source: Wsn 024
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony to mark Ashura, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday [Handout: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/via Reuters] (Wsn 024)
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the recent escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel. He participated in a solemn mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashura, one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar for Shia Muslims.
Ayatollah Khamenei was seen sitting among clerics and followers at a religious hall in Tehran, marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The ceremony was broadcast on Iranian state television, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the occasion and the leader’s continued authority despite geopolitical tensions.
This public appearance comes after weeks of silence amid speculation about his health and Iran’s military posture following airstrikes and retaliations involving Israel. Khamenei did not directly mention the war but called for resilience, unity, and “steadfastness in the face of oppression.”
The Ashura gathering symbolized Iran’s deep-rooted religious traditions and also served as a subtle assertion of stability and continuity in leadership.
Reported by Wsn 024