Iran's ayatollah makes first public appearance since Iran-Israel conflict started

Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran began. 

His absence during the fighting suggested heavy security for the Iranian leader who has final say on all state matters. The 86-year-old had reportedly spent the conflict in a bunker as threats on his life escalated. 

Attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura, Iranian state television broadcast images of him waving to a chanting crowd in the Iranian capital of Tehran. No immediate report was available on any public statement made. 

US President Donald Trump had sent warnings via social media to Khamenei after inserting themselves into the Iran-Israel conflict by bombing three nuclear sites. 

Trump had said that the US knew where Khamenei was, but had no plans to kill him “at least for now.” 

Khamenei made a public statement on June 26, shortly before the ceasefire began. He said that Tehran had delivered a “slap to America’s face” by striking a US air base in Qatar and warned against further attacks by the US or Israel. 

Trump replied, in remarks to reporters and on social media: “Look, you’re a man of great faith. A man who’s highly respected in his country. You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell.” 

Iran said that more than 900 people were killed during its conflict with Israel, and thousands more were injured. It also confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities and subsequently denied the UN nuclear watchdog access to them. 

It remains unclear how badly damaged the sites were and whether Tehran has plans to continue negotiations with the US over its nuclear programme.