• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attended a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashura, marking his first public appearance since the 12-day conflict with Israel.
• During the war, over 900 Iranians were reported dead, with significant damage to nuclear facilities and retaliatory strikes on Israel.
• Khamenei's absence from the public eye was attributed to heightened security concerns as threats escalated during the conflict.
• The U.S. and Israel targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites, prompting Iran to retaliate with ballistic missile attacks.
• The appearance comes as Iran suspends cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), raising tensions further.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance on Saturday, July 5, at a religious ceremony marking Ashura, the holiest day in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar. This event follows a 12-day war with Israel, during which Khamenei reportedly remained in a secure location due to threats against his life and issued only pre-recorded messages. State television broadcast footage of Khamenei greeting supporters at Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran, where attendees chanted and welcomed him, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Le Monde.

The conflict, which began on June 13, resulted in Iranian casualties exceeding 900 and substantial damage to nuclear facilities following U.S. airstrikes aimed at key Iranian sites. In retaliation, Iran launched over 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, with the strikes causing significant casualties, including at least 28 deaths, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The 86-year-old Khamenei's absence during the war was seen as a sign of increased security measures, heightened after U.S. President Donald Trump issued warnings via social media regarding his safety. Khamenei, in a pre-recorded statement after the ceasefire began on June 26, asserted that Iran would not be intimidated by the U.S. or Israel’s actions, as reported by BBC and Newsweek.

With the worsening situation, Iran has also taken steps to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), complicating efforts to monitor its nuclear activities. This decision has raised concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions amidst ongoing tensions, as highlighted by Al Jazeera and Dawn.