Iran’s Khamenei Makes First Public Comments Since Cease-Fire With Israel

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated Iranians for what he described as a victory over Israel and the United States, in a defiant video message that appeared to be his first public statement since U.S. war planes bombed three of the country’s nuclear facilities.

Public alarm has been rising in Iran over the absence of Mr. Khamenei, who has the final say on key decisions for the country but has not been seen or heard from publicly in a week. Although he had issued two statements during Iran and Israel’s 12-day conflict, he had made no public statements or recorded messages since the American miliary attack on Sunday, Iran retaliated by firing missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar, and Iran and Israel agreed to a cease-fire on Tuesday.

The lack of any comment from Mr. Khamenei had begun to raise questions among the Iranian public over his health and his whereabouts. Iranian officials had previously said Mr. Khamenei was sheltering in a bunker and refraining from any electronic communications in order to prevent assassination attempts against him.

Read more: New York Times