Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare public appearance on Saturday, ending weeks of absence following a violent escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The reemergence of the longtime cleric was reported by Iran’s state-run Press TV.
This marks Khamenei’s first public sighting since June 13, the day Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear installations.
The United States later joined the offensive, targeting three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities. The operation concluded when then-U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.
In a video shared on X by Press TV, Khamenei is seen greeting a large crowd clad in black, assembled to observe the eve of Ashura, a solemn day in Shia Islam that honors the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. The crowd responded with chants and applause as Khamenei waved to them.
Sheltered During the Assault
Throughout the 12-day campaign, Khamenei reportedly stayed hidden in a secure underground facility, isolated from outside communication.
During that period, U.S. and Israeli leaders openly entertained the idea of forcibly removing him from power.
Trump, after reportedly nixing an Israeli plan to assassinate the cleric, later called Khamenei an “easy target.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hinted at the possibility of a targeted killing, stating that eliminating Khamenei would “not … escalate the conflict,” but instead “end” it.
Khamenei, undeterred, issued a defiant message in a pre-recorded broadcast from an undisclosed location shortly after the ceasefire. He proclaimed Iran’s survival and resistance against both adversaries.
“This (conflict) is not about our nuclear program,” Khamenei said. “This is about Iran surrendering … in his statement, (Trump) revealed the truth, he showed his hand. The Americans have had a fundamental issue with Islamic Iran since our revolution.”
“And it will never happen,” Khamenei said of Trump’s demand.
Damage to Authority at Home
Despite his defiance, analysts believe the conflict may have damaged Khamenei’s standing among Iranians.
According to CNN’s June report, Israel’s first wave of strikes killed high-ranking Iranian military officials and deeply shook public confidence.
“The Islamic Republic had one social contract with society, which is that it deprived them of all freedoms … in return for providing security,” said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group. “Now, that image has been shattered in the eyes of the Iranian people.”
Trump Vows to Block Iran’s Nuclear Aspirations
Khamenei’s reappearance coincided with renewed warnings from Trump, who told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday that the U.S. would block any attempt by Iran to revive its nuclear ambitions.
“If they did start, there’d be a problem. We wouldn’t allow that to happen,” Trump stated.
He added that he plans to discuss the strikes with Netanyahu during the Israeli leader’s upcoming visit to Washington on Monday.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, also emphasized the need for continued “aerial superiority” over Iran to prevent the reactivation of its nuclear and missile programs.
Trump further claimed that Iran is eager to resume dialogue with the United States, an assertion consistently denied by Iranian officials.
Behind the scenes, sources revealed that Trump’s administration has floated a proposal that would grant Iran up to $30 billion for civilian nuclear energy development, alongside sanctions relief and unfreezing of restricted funds, an effort aimed at persuading Tehran to return to the negotiation table.
