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Iran’s Khamenei makes first public appearance since Israel war began

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the start of Israel’s war against Iran on Saturday. Khamenei had been in hiding in a security bunker throughout the conflict, with President Donald Trump claiming to know his location. He attended a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura, waving to a large crowd but not making any statement.

During the 12-day war with Israel, Trump asserted that the U.S. knew Khamenei’s location but would not kill him, “at least for now.” Following a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Khamenei made a pre-recorded statement on June 26, boasting about Iran’s strike on a U.S. air base in Qatar and warning against further attacks by the U.S. or Israel.

Despite Iran’s missile strikes not hitting their mark on the Al-Udeid Air Base, experts believe the regime is still determined to develop nuclear weapons. Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran Program, stated that Iran’s strategy moving forward remains to be seen. The regime confirmed that the Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites were “seriously damaged” following U.S. and Israeli strikes, sparking questions about the extent of the damage and Iran’s ability to salvage its nuclear program.

The Trump administration declared that it had “obliterated” the struck facilities, rejecting reports suggesting Iranian officials may have transferred elements of their nuclear program. Israeli officials are closely monitoring the situation. Experts believe Iran is still assessing the damage and may seek to recover and repair what it can, buying time to continue its nuclear ambitions.

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The regime’s diplomatic strategy is expected to delay any decisive actions, as they attempt to regroup and potentially rebuild their nuclear program. The situation remains fluid, with Iran’s next steps uncertain. Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.

Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events, can be contacted at Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

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