Iran's top leader publicly unveils his first appearance
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began, coinciding with the Shiite Muslim holy day of Ashoura. The event, which took place on July 5, 2025, was a significant moment of defiance and solidarity with the Iranian people amid the ongoing crisis.
Ashoura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, in the 7th century. It is the holiest day in the Shiite calendar, centred on themes of sacrifice, resistance against tyranny, and steadfastness in faith. Khamenei’s attendance at a mosque near his office in Tehran to host the memorial ceremony underscored the religious and ideological framing of the conflict with Israel as part of a broader historic and spiritual struggle.
Dressed in black, a colour of mourning, Khamenei was greeted with chants of, “The blood in our veins for our leader,” highlighting his symbolic role as a unifying figure for Iran during the war. His absence during the war suggested heightened security concerns, including possible seclusion in a bunker amid death threats from Israel.
The timing of Khamenei’s appearance during Ashoura was significant because it linked the contemporary conflict to the legacy of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom, invoking themes of resistance and sacrifice that resonate deeply with Iran’s Shiite majority. It also served to rally domestic support and morale after heavy casualties and damage to Iran's nuclear facilities during the conflict. The ceremony and his presence sent a message of resilience, continuity, and religious legitimacy amid the turmoil.
The Associated Press reported on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's attendance at the mourning ceremony for Ashoura, providing a glimpse into this significant event for the Iranian people. However, further details about the 12-day war between Israel and Iran were not provided in the current information.
The 12-day war between Israel and Iran, despite not having all its details disclosed, seems to be framed as part of a broader historical and spiritual struggle, as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's attendance at a mourning ceremony for Ashoura in July 2025 indicates. This event in the world of general news, politics, and war-and-conflicts, was used to link the contemporary conflict to the legacy of Imam Hussein's martyrdom, rallying domestic support and morale amongst Iran's Shiite majority.
