WANA (Jul 07) – The appearance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at a religious ceremony on the eve of Ashura in Tehran sparked a massive reaction across social media. In less than two hours, posts and videos related to his presence garnered over 200 million views on both domestic and international platforms.

 

The event, held at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in the Iranian capital, was part of the traditional Shiite mourning rituals commemorating Ashura — a 7th-century historical event central to Shiite religious and political identity.

 

This surge in online engagement came amid growing speculation about Ayatollah Khamenei’s health, following weeks of regional tension, including open threats from Israel to assassinate him and the volatile security climate after the recent twelve-day Iran-Israel conflict.

 

The first images from the ceremony began circulating around 11 PM Tehran time and quickly spread across platforms such as Twitter (X), Telegram, Instagram, the Iranian social network Eitaa, and the content-sharing site Virasty. The extraordinary volume of views in such a short time underscored the public’s heightened sensitivity to any sign of the Iranian leader’s presence and well-being at this critical juncture.

Iran’s Leader Makes First Public Appearance Since Iran-Israel War. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Analysts, both domestic and international, have interpreted Khamenei’s public appearance — and its wide online circulation — as a calculated response to the rumors, and a demonstration of his enduring authority.

 

In addition to the widespread reactions from users inside and outside Iran, the ceremony also drew attention when the official social media account of the Russian Embassy in Tehran shared a video of the event.

 

The embassy posted a recording of the recitation of “Ey Iran” by Mahmoud Karimi, performed in the presence of Iran’s Supreme Leader, along with the caption: “Long live Great Iran!”

 

Some media outlets interpreted this move by the Russian Embassy as a sign of political support and a friendly message amid heightened regional tensions.