Iran's Supreme Leader appears in public for first time since start of war
There was no immediate report on any public statement made.
Iran has acknowledged the deaths of more than 900 people in the war, as well as thousands of injured.
It also has confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities, and has denied access to the sites for inspectors with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Mr Khamenei hosted a remembrance of the seventh century martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Hussein, at a mosque next to his office and residence in the capital, Tehran.
Iranian officials such as the Parliament speaker were present, and such events are always held under heavy security.
Shiites represent over 10% of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, and they view Hussein as the rightful successor to Mohammed.
Hussein's death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, created a rift in Islam and continues to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity.
In predominantly Shiite Iran, red flags represented Hussein's blood and black funeral tents and clothes represented mourning.
Processions of chest-beating and self-flagellating men demonstrated fervour.
Some sprayed water over the mourners in the intense heat.
Israel relentlessly attacked Iran beginning on June 13, targeting its nuclear sites, defence systems, high-ranking military officials and atomic scientists.
In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Iran's Supreme Leader makes first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began
Iran 's Supreme Leader has made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, on Saturday attended a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura - a significant day in Islam marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. The octogenarian leader was shown in state TV footage waving to the cheering crowds and greeting worshippers who had gathered at a mosque near his office in Tehran. Khamenei could be seen on stage dressed in black and white as the audience before him, fists in the air, chanted: 'The blood in our veins for our leader!' State TV said the clip was filmed at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque, named for the founder of the Islamic republic. The leader, who has been in power since 1989, spoke last week in a pre-recorded video, but had not been seen in public since before Israel initiated the conflict with a shower of surprise airstrikes on June 13. Khamenei's absence during the war suggested the Iranian leader, who has final say on all state matters, had been in seclusion in a bunker - something not acknowledged by state media. There was no immediate report on any public statement made. Iranian officials such as the parliament speaker were present. Such events are always held under heavy security. The octogenarian leader was shown in a video broadcast by state television greeting people and being cheered at a mosque on Saturday After the US inserted itself into the war by bombing three key nuclear sites in Iran, US President Donald Trump sent warnings via social media to the 86-year-old Khamenei that the US knew where he was but had no plans to kill him, 'at least for now.' On June 26, shortly after a ceasefire began, Khamenei made his first public statement in days, saying in a prerecorded statement that Tehran had delivered a 'slap to America's face' by striking a US air base in Qatar, and warning against further attacks by the US or Israel on Iran. 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 has acknowledged the deaths of more than 900 people in the war, as well as thousands of injured. It also has confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities, and has denied access to them for inspectors with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Iran's president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, further limiting inspectors' ability to track a program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Israel launched the war fearing that Iran was trying to develop atomic weapons. It remains unclear just how badly damaged the nuclear facilities are, whether any enriched uranium or centrifuges had been moved before the attacks, and whether Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Israel also targeted defense systems, high-ranking military officials and atomic scientists. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of them intercepted, killing 28 people and causing damage in many areas. The ceremony that Khamenei hosted Saturday was a remembrance of the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein. Shiites represent over 10 per cent of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, and they view Hussein as the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein's death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, created a rift in Islam and continues to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity. In predominantly Shiite Iran, red flags represented Hussein's blood and black funeral tents and clothes represented mourning. Processions of chest-beating and self-flagellating men demonstrated fervor. Some sprayed water over the mourners in the intense heat. NetBlocks, a global internet monitor, reported late Saturday on X that there was a 'major disruption to internet connectivity' in Iran. It said the disruption corroborated widespread user reports of problems accessing the internet. The development comes just weeks after authorities shut down telecoms during the war.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Iran's supreme leader makes first public appearance since Israel war
Iran 's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which claimed the lives of top military leaders and nuclear scientists. Seen for the first time in over 20 days, Mr Khamenei was shown in a state television broadcast on Saturday entering a mosque hall and greeting people seated on the floor. It came on a day when worshippers mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a significant date for Shia Muslims. Mr Khamenei, 86, was seen dressed in black as the crowd rose from the ground, raised their fists in the air, and chanted: 'The blood in our veins for our leader!' Mr Khamenei's absence during the war had suggested heightened security measures for the Iranian leader, who holds the final say on all state matters. There was no immediate report on any public statement made. The leader released a pre-recorded video last week to address the Iranian public but had not been seen in public since Israel launched a major military operation against Iran on 13 June. Iran has acknowledged the deaths of more than 900 people in the war, as well as thousands of injured. It also has confirmed serious damage to its nuclear facilities, and has denied access to the sites for inspectors with the UN nuclear watchdog. Mr Khamenei hosted a remembrance of the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad 's grandson, Hussein, at a mosque next to his office and residence in the capital, Tehran. Iranian officials such as the Parliament speaker were present, and such events are always held under heavy security. Shiites represent over 10 per cen of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, and they view Hussein as the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein's death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, created a rift in Islam and continues to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity. In predominantly Shiite Iran, red flags represented Hussein's blood and black funeral tents and clothes represented mourning. Processions of chest-beating and self-flagellating men demonstrated fervour. Some sprayed water over the mourners in the intense heat. Israel relentlessly attacked Iran beginning June 13, targeting its nuclear sites, defence systems, high-ranking military officials and atomic scientists. According to official figures, the strikes killed more than 900 people in Iran, while retaliatory Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities left at least 28 people dead. After the US targeted three nuclear facilities during the Iran-Israel war, Donald Trump claimed the strikes had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear capabilities. However, last week, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran could produce enriched uranium 'in a matter of months'. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told US broadcaster CBS News that the strikes on three Iranian sites had caused significant, though not total, damage. He said: 'Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there. 'They [Iran] can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that … Iran has the capacities there: industrial and technological capacities.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Big pay days and top of the polls: Nigel Farage's first year as an MP
Nigel Farage has had one of the best years of his political career after voters finally elected him to parliament at the eighth time of asking. He is odds on to be the UK's next prime minister, vying with Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting, with Kemi Badenoch trailing behind. Here are the key facts and numbers behind his first year in the House of Commons. Farage has been flying high in the polls, leading the pack in terms of popularity and outstripping Keir Starmer in some areas – although opinion is still divided. One achievement, aided by Starmer, is that the public is now more likely to see Farage as the main opposition rather than Badenoch, according to the pollster Ipsos. Although many people have no confidence in any party, the pollster found they are more likely to be confident in Reform UK (37%) compared with Labour (32%). Just a quarter (24%) chose the Conservatives. Farage has taken a relaxed view to being present in the House of Commons, telling a press conference this month that his vote doesn't make any difference much of the time. 'We are stuck in a very funny parliament. Occasionally you'll get a vote like on assisted dying. Everything else the government wins by 180 to 200,' he said, when quizzed on why he was absent for the debate on decriminalising late-term abortion. He has voted about 95 times over the course of the year out of about 250 divisions – a similar record to Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, but less than the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, or the Green party leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer (who had one of the highest voting records at 209). Data compiled by campaign group Hope Not Hate found that Farage had also spoken less in parliament than other comparable party leaders – just 45 times, against 226 for Badenoch (who has more opportunities as leader of the opposition), 97 for Davey and 182 and 86 respectively for Denyer and Ramsay. Farage is one of the most vocal and prominent party leaders on broadcast channels. He recorded dozens of episodes of his midweek 7pm GB News show and had prime time appearances on Question Time, Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, ITV This Morning and ITV's Peston. One of the main ways in which Farage has outstripped the other party leaders is on social media. He has 2.2 million followers on X – more than the prime minister who has 1.9 million. On TikTok he has 1.3 million followers, reaching a younger audience, whereas few other politicians even have accounts – partly for security reasons. Farage is the highest paid MP of this parliament by a long way. He earned at least £970,000 from outside employment ranging from speeches to bringing in £280,000 as brand ambassador for a gold company. In April, he got a 10th job, making £25,000 (AU$52,000) as a commentator for the Rupert Murdoch-backed Sky News Australia, with the MP telling the channel that Britain was 'going downhill'. The portfolio of gigs on top of his role as an MP also includes a £4,000-a-month column for the Daily Telegraph and presenting for GB News, which has paid him more than £330,000 since July. Farage has made at least nine trips abroad, including eight to the US, since he was elected MP for Clacton in Essex last July, with many of them either funded by donors or undertaken for paid employment such as speeches. These include fundraisers for Donald Trump and the Republican party, celebrating Trump's inauguration, and a visit to meet Elon Musk – which preceded the fall out between the pair over Farage's decision to distance Reform from far-right agitator Tommy Robinson. Domestically, he has found time for trips to Ascot and Cheltenham to watch horse racing while the Commons was sitting. And he also took a week-long break in May to an unknown location during parliament term time. Farage has embedded himself quickly as MP for Clacton and is there many Fridays doing events. However, he has said he is not doing surgeries for safety reasons – although he had to backtrack on a claim that he was advised not to by parliamentary security advisers. He has also not been turning up to the Clacton town board despite being invited. A Clacton Labour spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage claimed he cared – that he'd put Clacton on the map. Yet while we face real challenges here, he's been jetting off around the world, leaving our voices unheard. He's here so little, he probably needs that map.'
