On June 26, right after the ceasefire, Khamenei issued a public statement which displayed the usual bluster expected of Iran’s Islamic regime. After Israel blew Iran’s nuclear sites to smithereens and took out its top commanders and nuclear scientists, while the US destroyed three nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer, Khamenei tried to save face and said “in a prerecorded statement that Tehran had delivered a ‘slap to America’s face’ by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar, and warning against further attacks by the U.S. or Israel on Iran.”
Now Khamenei has finally come out of hiding to honor the “martyrdom” of Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, at Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran.
Hussein is viewed in Shia Islam as the rightful successor to Muhammad. He died at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad in the year 680. His death marks the beginning of the formal schism between Shia and Sunni. Given that Iran is the major center of Twelver Shia Islam, the largest branch of the Shia, Khamenei capitalized on this day to try to regain some respect as supreme leader.
But the days of Khamenei are still likely to be numbered, and he’s desperate. Discussions about his ill health, his ability to continue to rule, and who his successor would be were going on well before the Israeli attack, pointing to a likely longstanding determination by the regime to remove him from power. Now, frontrunners to rule Iran have emerged, as regime officials discuss possible successors to Khamenei. A Khamenei-linked newspaper also recently called for the arrest and execution of International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi, while continuing with its empty threats of retaliation against America.
“Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, makes first public appearance since Israel war,” Guardian, July 6, 2025:
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made his first public appearance since the outbreak of his country’s recent 12-day war with Israel, taking part in a religious ceremony in Tehran, state media reported.
The octogenarian leader was shown in a video broadcast by state television greeting people and being cheered at a mosque on Saturday as worshippers marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, an important date for Shia Muslims.
Khamenei, 86, can be seen on stage dressed in black as the crowd before him, fists in the air, chants, “The blood in our veins for our leader!”
State TV said the clip was filmed at central Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque, named for the founder of the Islamic republic.
Khamenei, in power since 1989, spoke last week in a pre-recorded video, but had not been seen in public since before Israel initiated the conflict with a wave of surprise airstrikes on 13 June.
His last public appearance was two days before that, when he met members of parliament….
࿗Infidel࿘ says
That Imam Khomenei mosque was one mosque that the Israelis should have targeted to destroy during the 12 day war. That, as well as Khomenei’s mausoleum, if those 2 are separate
Wonder whether he joined his comrades in their annual self-flagellation exercises while observing the event. He sure could have used a few gashes all over his body
gravenimage says
Iran: Khamenei emerges from hiding in first public appearance to honor ‘martyrdom’ of Muhammad’s grandson Hussein
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Brave lion of Islam… sarc/off
T D says
The code word for the bombing was called midnight Hammer – Charles Martel in 732 Battle of Tours stopped the advancement of Islam he was called the Hammer?
OLD GUY says
Khamenei should be proud, he got his grandson killed. But in Islam family is deposable, just as rape, violence and murder are acceptable under Allah.