Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s first public appearance in over three weeks has drawn mixed reactions, with state officials and media hailing his return as a sign of strength while some online reactions from Iranians were dismissive or critical.
Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif heaped praise on the leader who had not been seen in public since June 10 before his reappearance at a religious ceremony Saturday night.
“The fearless presence of Ali Khamenei in a traditional public gathering permanently shattered the delusional lies that paid pundits have been pushing. Time to wake up and admit that Iranians never surrender,” he said.
Throughout the three-week gap, social media users widely mocked Khamenei’s invisibility, some likening it to a contradiction of his own past rhetoric.
In a 2005 speech, Khamenei had derided US leaders for “disappearing” after 9/11 and said, “If a bitter experience happens to Iran, we ourselves will don battle garb and stand ready to sacrifice.”
Supporters hail ‘steadfast’ image
Government-aligned figures such as Zarif had earlier insisted that Khamenei’s absence was a leadership tactic, but shifted their tone following the ceremony on Saturday to label it a sign of bravery.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, called the reappearance “the most beautiful image I saw upon arriving in Brazil” as he arrived for the Brics summit, and added: “With you, one can brave the seas.”
Mehdi Fazaeli, a member of Khamenei’s office, wrote on X that "the mourning hall exploded", referring to the crowds' excitement for the reappearance of the elusive leader at the mourning ceremony held on the occasion of Ashura.
"The waves of this explosion will sweep through Tel Aviv and the White House. It was an explosion of love, devotion, and union," he said.
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of the Expediency Council and a former IRGC commander, portrayed the event as a rallying moment for a nation still suffering the fallout of the 12-day war launched by Israel on June 13.
“When people’s eyes fell on our Leader’s stature, all understood this house’s pillar is firm and no storm can uproot it,” he said.
Iran International editor Morteza Kazemian argued the reappearance is unlikely to restore the status quo of pre-war normalcy, citing the weight of insecurity now surrounding Iran’s defense posture.
“The war showed the country’s skies are defenseless, putting Khamenei squarely among Israel’s potential targets," he said.
Naim Qassem, the Secretary General of Iran's largest regional ally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, praised Khamenei for “his courage, faith, support, and guidance."
Yet while praise flowed from allies, Iranian state institutions remained notably silent on Khamenei’s prolonged absence. Neither his office nor official media offered explanations for his whereabouts during or after the Israeli strikes.
Critics cast ceremony as political theater
Some citizens saw Khamenei’s appearance not as courage, but desperation. A video submitted to Iran International mocked his choice of song, “Ey Iran”, a patriotic anthem rarely embraced by the clerical establishment.
One viewer's message to Iran International said, “If I were him, I’d have preferred to be killed by Israel than to return in this shameful way."
Iranian Nobel laureate and lawyer Shirin Ebadi criticized Khamenei on her Telegram page, saying that while he emerged from his bolthole, the Iranian public who had no shelter from the Israeli barrage were left mourning.
”History will record him as a dictator of the same era as Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, and Mubarak—but one who lacked even a shred of dignity," Ebadi said.
"Unlike other dictators who at least believed in themselves, he begged for power, and in complete contradiction to the ideals he once shouted from the rooftops, appeared on the eve of Ashura with a smile among a group of hand-picked loyalists saying they were ready to sacrifice their lives for him—while political prisoners and ordinary people had already been sacrificed as his human shields.”
Human rights news agency HRANA said that 1,190 Iranians were killed in the war, 4,475 injured.
Another viewer of Iran International said, “After 20 days, the ‘Great Satan’ crawled out of his hole just to say he wasn’t scared. But we’ve already understood what we needed to—you are a coward and completely spineless.”
“He came out of hiding after 22 days. If I were in his place, I would’ve rather been killed by Israel than show up among the people like this,” said another.
”Since last night, ever since this 'Supreme Mouse' crawled out of his hole, the news has been subtitling it as 'his appearance in public'. But 'public' meant when he used to attend funerals for his commanders or visited missile-struck areas. This wasn’t a public appearance—it was more like a private gathering, where everything on land and in the air had been secured just so this mouse could come out,” said another citizen.
In Israel as news of Khamenei's reemergence broke, the Jerusalem Post called it a "rectifiable mistake" that Israel did not kill Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, a potential successor.
