Photos of Shiite Muslims around the world celebrating Ashoura
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Scottish Sun
30 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Iran's supreme leader the Ayatollah, 86, breaks cover with first appearance since Trump ordered Israel not to kill him
The Ayatollah's reappearance comes after rumours swirled about his safety MARKED FOR DEATH Iran's supreme leader the Ayatollah, 86, breaks cover with first appearance since Trump ordered Israel not to kill him Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IRAN'S Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has broken cover for the first time since the 12-day war that saw the US and Israel strike Iran's nuclear sites. The 85-year-old appeared smiling on Saturday at a packed Tehran mosque - after reports he had spent days in a 'secure location'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the start of the 12-day war Credit: Getty 7 The Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building hit by an Israeli strike on June 16 7 US President Donald Trump claimed he 'saved' Khamenei 'from a very ugly and ignominious death' by Israel Credit: Getty It was Khamenei's first live appearance since war broke out on June 13, when Israeli forces launched a sudden wave of airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites. The US joined in days later, bombing three major sites on June 22 - including the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility. Top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists were reportedly killed in brutal Israeli strikes, forcing Khamenei to vanish from public view. Since the air war began, he has given only prerecorded speeches - sparking rumours about his safety. But footage aired by Iranian state media on Saturday showed the leader smiling and waving to a crowd of chanting supporters at a mosque. Dozens of people were seen attending the event to mark Ashura - the holiest day of the Shia Muslim calendar. It comes 11 days after the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Khamenei at the time appeared on state TV, boasting that Iran had dealt a 'slap to America's face' with a missile strike on a US airbase in Qatar. He said: 'The American regime entered a direct war because it felt that if it did not, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. "However, it gained no achievements from this war. Iran's Ayatollah breaks silence after WEEKS cowering in bunker during Israel's blitz and 'obliterating' Trump strikes 'Here, too, the Islamic Republic emerged victorious, and in return, the Islamic Republic delivered a severe slap to America's face.' US President Donald Trump took to social media to mock the claim and bragged that he had personally blocked an attempt to kill Khamenei. In a Truth Social post, Trump raged: "I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH. "And he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!' 7 Satellite image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility in Iran showing damage from the US strikes Credit: Reuters 7 Israeli Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles over Tel Aviv 7 Khamenei said Iran had delivered a 'slap to America's face' in his address to the nation after the ceasefire Credit: Reuters 7 Trump hit back saying Khamenei 'got beat to hell' Credit: EPA "I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life." Israeli officials had openly hinted that Khamenei was 'not off the table' as a potential target during the air war. But at the start of the war Trump claimed that while Khamenei was an "easy target", the US was "not going to take him out… at least not for now". The US president also blasted the Iranian leader's claims that Iran won the war. He wrote: "Why would the so-called 'Supreme Leader,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war-torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so. "As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie." It comes as Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi - one of Iran's most hardline clerics - issued a religious fatwa calling for the deaths of both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, branding them 'enemies of God'.
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trump's sweeping tariff pause ENDS next week... here's the everyday goods set to skyrocket in price
Governments and markets around the world are bracing for yet another nail-biting trade deadline set to kick in at 12:01 a.m. on July 9. Unless Donald Trump decides to blink and impose another delay - a move he's made before - consumers could soon be forking out more for a range of goods.
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Elon Musk's plot to undermine Trump ignites fury
The rollercoaster of a relationship between the world's richest man, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump has captivated the attention of many political observers over the last year — but Musk's latest move could be his boldest yet. Musk officially filed a Statement of Organization Sunday with the Federal Election Commission for his 'America Party' after weeks of threatening the GOP. On July 4th, Musk asked his 221.7 million followers on X if it was time to make good on his threats to create a new political party and oust the Republicans who supported Trump's signature budget bill. The bill narrowly passed through Congress after weeks of debate and different GOP factions plotting to tank the legislation at various points in the process. Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate, with just a handful of seats giving them the edge over Democrats. Out of 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, 53 are held by Republicans. In the House, 220 seats are held by Republicans, 212 by Democrats, and three are presently vacant due to member deaths. Trump's budget bill passed with narrow margins in both chambers last week, with some members of the President's party voting against it. Musk and Trump got into a social media war during debate on the legislation, leading to Musk threatening to use his billions to start a third party and Trump threatening to deport the naturalized American citizen. Last Monday, before the bill even passed, Musk escalated his attacks, saying lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but supported the bill 'should hang their heads in shame.' He added, 'And they will lose their primary next year if it's the last thing I do on this Earth.' Musk, now worth over $400 billion, founded the AmericaPAC super PAC in 2024. AmericaPAC raised more than $260 million last year, much of it to back Republicans in swing districts. Over $88 million went to supporting Trump directly. Despite the unpopularity of national third-party or independent presidential campaigns, state-level races tell a different story. Two current U.S. Senators are Independents who caucus with Democrats, and dozens of independents have served in the Senate throughout history. Musk was notably quiet immediately after the budget bill passed but weighed in on July 4th with a cryptic post: 'Great day for some … fireworks,' with two fire emojis. He praised Senators Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie, both of Kentucky, for voting against the bill, posting a '100' emoji in support. He previously threatened to primary any GOP lawmaker who voted in favor. Some, like Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), brushed off the threat, calling Musk a 'true patriot' and praising his past government service under Trump. Still, Musk has called out Freedom Caucus members who supported the bill. 'How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a Debt Slavery bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?' he wrote, tagging two GOP lawmakers. Meanwhile, other Republicans downplayed Musk's political ambitions, while some Trump allies struck back. Investor James Fishback, whose ETF avoids DEI-focused firms, pulled his Tesla-themed fund in response to Musk's party launch. It remains to be seen whether Musk's opposition to Trump-aligned Republicans is a one-off—or a sign he's serious about reshaping the GOP from the outside.
