Iran's supreme leader in public appearance following reports of ill health
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in public today, refuting rumors that he was on his death bed following recent surgery.
After speculation had grown in recent weeks over the health condition of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei due to his absence from public, he finally appeared at a religious ceremony marking the occasion of Arbaeen, an observance that occurs 40 days after the day marking the martyrdom of the third Shiite Imam, Hussein Ibn Ali.
Khamenei saluted the attendees and then spoke to them standing up, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi sat behind to him to his left. His appearance at the Arbaeen ceremony had been announced by his office earlier this week.
In his short speech, the supreme leader said he was delighted that Islamism is on rise and that God is working toward the progress of Islamism in the world day after day.
He also praised the Arbaeen march held in Iraq — where millions of Shiite pilgrims walked toward the site where Imam Hussein was killed — considering it a nuisance for the "enemies."
