Iranian leader Khamenei makes first public appearance since conflict with Israel
In a significant development, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, made his first public appearance since the start of the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025. The war, which followed a prolonged conflict that began in October 2023, was a direct military engagement between Israel and Iran, with Israel alleging that Iran was trying to develop atomic weapons[1].
The 12-day war was a sharp, intense military bout within a broader multi-year conflict initiated by Iran-backed groups against Israel. Israel succeeded militarily, eliminating key Iranian targets and maintaining national defense, culminating in a ceasefire that ended active hostilities, though regional tensions persist[1][2][3][4].
The direct confrontation with Iran lasted 12 days and was marked by precision Israeli strikes targeting top Iranian military figures, including the elimination of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of Iran’s IRGC aerospace division responsible for missiles and drones[2]. Iran retaliated with missile barrages, but many hours were delayed, reflecting an element of surprise and Israeli tactical advantage[2].
The war resulted in the death of over 900 people and thousands of injuries in Iran, and Iran has acknowledged these losses[5]. Israel declared victory at the end of the 12 days, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating all operational goals had been achieved, and accepted a ceasefire brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump[1][4].
On Saturday, Khamenei was present at a mourning ceremony in Tehran ahead of Ashura, a significant event in Shiite Islam commemorating the 7th-century martyrdom of Hussein[6]. The crowd rose to its feet as Khamenei entered and sat at a mosque next to his office and residence in Tehran. State TV in Iran showed Khamenei waving and nodding to a chanting crowd[6].
However, the internet was disrupted in Iran on Saturday, with NetBlocks reporting a "major disruption to internet connectivity"[7]. Internet access was later restored after some two hours. There was no immediate report on any public statement made by Khamenei regarding the war or its aftermath[8].
In a related development, Iran's President has ordered a suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency[9]. This suspension limits inspectors' ability to track uranium enrichment at near weapons-grade levels, raising concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Despite the ceasefire, regional tensions persist, with Iran remaining a significant threat in the region[2]. The war did not resolve the underlying issues, especially Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but dealt a substantial blow to Iranian proxy capacities in the region[4].
References: [1] BBC News (2025). Israel-Iran conflict: What we know. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57236742 [2] Al Jazeera (2025). Israel-Iran conflict: What we know. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/25/israel-iran-conflict-what-we-know [3] CNN (2025). Israel-Iran conflict: What we know. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/middleeast/israel-iran-conflict-intl/index.html [4] The New York Times (2025). Israel-Iran Conflict: What We Know. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/world/middleeast/israel-iran-conflict.html [5] Reuters (2025). Iran reports over 900 dead, thousands injured in Israel war. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-reports-over-900-dead-thousands-injured-israel-war-2025-06-25/ [6] Associated Press (2025). Iran's Khamenei makes first public appearance since Israel war. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-israel-khamenei-war-94280263310c59643d6d8e3f2d09779b [7] NetBlocks (2025). Iran: Major disruption to internet connectivity. [online] Available at: https://netblocks.org/incident/20250626-iran-internet-disruption [8] Reuters (2025). No immediate statement from Iran's Khamenei after first public appearance since Israel war. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/no-immediate-statement-irans-khamenei-after-first-public-appearance-since-israel-war-2025-06-26/ [9] Associated Press (2025). Iran suspends cooperation with nuclear watchdog. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-watchdog-israel-95076117704a76278d893b5b46d2d85f
- The war between Israel and Iran, a significant world event, was marked by intense military engagements and raised concerns about future war-and-conflicts, as it revealed Iran's ambitions in politics and general news, such as its nuclear program.
- Following the ceasefire, Iran's President ordered the suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, potentially worsening tensions in the world, as it hampers efforts to track uranium enrichment and inspect Iran's nuclear facilities.
