Iran's Supreme Leader Emerges Amid Ongoing Tensions with Israel**

In a significant public re-emergence, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei greeted worshippers at a mosque, amidst ongoing tensions following the recent conflict with Israel that saw significant military exchanges.**

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reappeared in public for the first time since the escalation of conflict with Israel, as reported by state media. This appearance took place during a ceremony on Saturday, ahead of the Shia festival of Ashura, where footage broadcasted on Iranian state television depicted him warmly greeting worshippers at a mosque.

The last recorded address from Khamenei followed the ceasefire that concluded the recent 12-day war, which activated on 13 June after Israel's surprise military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. During this period, multiple high-ranking Iranian military officials and scientists met their demise. Following retaliatory aerial assaults on Israel by Iran, speculation surrounded Khamenei’s whereabouts, with many believing he was in seclusion for security reasons.

His last public communication, a video address delivered two days post-ceasefire on June 26, showcased his assertion of Iranian “victory” in the face of adversarial claims from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the Iranian leader of fabricating successes while the strikes purportedly obliterated strategic facilities.

The Iranian media hailed Khamenei's reappearance, featuring enthusiastic responses from supporters. At Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque, Khamenei was seen encouraging a senior cleric to lead a rendition of the national anthem, following an increase in its popularity amid the recent hostilities.

This public return coincides with a national period of mourning peculiar to Muharram, particularly significant for its focus on the martyrdom of Hossein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. As the events unfold, the Iranian judiciary has reported over 900 fatalities linked to the military actions amidst the ongoing geopolitical turmoil, raising tensions further as the U.S. military also engaged in operations targeting Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict.