The highest leader of Iran, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suddenly disappeared almost two weeks during recent fights with Israel. According to reports, he had not been seen since 11 June, just before Israel started bombing Iran on June 13.
Khamenei finally stepped back in sight on July 5 during a funeral ceremony in Tehran. He looked thin but calm and sat quietly while crowds ashura marking, a holy day for Muslims. His surprise efficiency came when Iran faced enormous challenges: nuclear sites are in ruins, where the US says that Iran's atom program has been “erased”. Iran has now stopped working with Naclair inspectors of the UN.
More problems also brew in the Iran's government. Powerful army groups fight for control as soon as Khamenei dies, with some who want less religious rule.
While rockets Tehran and other cities met, Khamene disappeared completely. State TV showed no videos from him and officials gave confusing answers when he was asked where he was. One assistant just said to Iranians: “We all have to pray”. Security experts believed that Khamenei hid in a secret underground bunker to prevent Israel's murder attempts, who had threatened to direct him directly.
During his disappearance, Khamenei only sent one message, a shaky video that was released after ceases -fires. He claimed that Iran “won” against Israel and our attacks at nuclear locations “unimportantly”.
But his words did not match reality: Israel killed more than 30 top Iranian commanders and scientists, while we bombs destroy important nuclear facilities.
