Ayatollah Khamenei appears in public for the first time since the war with Israel

(Patria) - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appeared in public for the first time on Saturday since the outbreak of the recent twelve-day war between Iran and Israel, participating in a religious ceremony in Tehran, state media reported, AFP reported.

He was shown in a video broadcast by state television greeting people and receiving greetings in a mosque as worshippers marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, an important date for Shia Muslims.

Khamenei (86) can be seen on stage dressed in black as a crowd in front of him, with fists in the air, chants "Blood in our veins for our leader!"

State television said the footage was taken at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in central Tehran, named after the founder of the Islamic Republic.

Khamenei, in power since 1989, spoke last week in a pre-recorded video, but has not been seen in public since Israel launched the war with a wave of surprise air strikes on June 13.

His last public appearance was two days prior, when he met with members of parliament.