Following weeks of absence, Khamenei attended an annual religious ceremony linked to Ashura at his compound in Tehran on Saturday night. His appearance comes after a period of intense scrutiny regarding his well-being, especially after making two public statements via video during which he appeared weakened following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian sites.
Witnesses described the atmosphere at the event, with an unexpected reception as Khamenei entered wearing a traditional black clerical robe and a checkered kaffiyeh. The audience, consisting of hundreds, responded enthusiastically, rising in unison and chanting a Shiite battle cry. Khamenei acknowledged the crowd with a wave but did not deliver a speech, opting instead to sit beside various high-ranking officials present.
Prior to this event, Khamenei had engaged the public through brief video messages addressing recent escalations, where he struggled to convey his thoughts due to his apparent frailty. His long absence from the public eye had stirred concerns about both his health and potential threats to his leadership as the region faces renewed conflict.
Witnesses described the atmosphere at the event, with an unexpected reception as Khamenei entered wearing a traditional black clerical robe and a checkered kaffiyeh. The audience, consisting of hundreds, responded enthusiastically, rising in unison and chanting a Shiite battle cry. Khamenei acknowledged the crowd with a wave but did not deliver a speech, opting instead to sit beside various high-ranking officials present.
Prior to this event, Khamenei had engaged the public through brief video messages addressing recent escalations, where he struggled to convey his thoughts due to his apparent frailty. His long absence from the public eye had stirred concerns about both his health and potential threats to his leadership as the region faces renewed conflict.
