
For the first time since the outbreak of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appeared in public.
State television showed him greeting worshippers at a mosque on Saturday, during a ceremony held the day before the Shiite holiday of Ashura.
His public appearance dominated Iranian media, with footage of supporters expressing joy at Khamenei's appearance being broadcast.
The ayatollah is seen addressing senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi, encouraging him to sing a patriotic song about Iran that became very popular during the conflict with Israel.
Khamenei's last non-public appearance was a recorded speech following the ceasefire that ended the war that began on June 13, during which top military commanders and nuclear scientists were killed.
During the 12-day war with Israel, Khamenei appeared on television in three video messages, amid speculation that he and his family were hiding in a bunker. On June 27, the day a ceasefire was reached, he appeared claiming victory and telling the United States that they had not achieved any results from their attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
The US president accused Khamenei of lying and repeated the claim that Tehran's nuclear sites had been destroyed. Trump said at the time that he had saved the Ayatollah from an ugly and humiliating death.