In his first public appearance since the ceasefire, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei posted a tweet on his official Twitter page on Thursday, congratulating Iranians on their victory over Israel.

He wrote on his official page:"I congratulate the great Iranian people on this victory over the false Zionist regime," he said.

He pointed out that the Zionist regime was on the verge of collapse and destruction under the blows of the Islamic Republic, despite all the noise and allegations, according to his description.

Earlier, the New York Times reported that concern is growing in Iran over the continued absence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard from in public for nearly a week, despite the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

According to the American newspaper, Khamenei is believed to have gone into hiding when the conflict erupted on June 13.

The New York Times reported that Khamenei is still in hiding, fearing that Israel will attempt to assassinate him during the truce.

When asked about Khamenei during a media interview, Mehdi Fazaeli, deputy head of Khamenei's archive office, said:"Those responsible for protecting the Supreme Leader are doing their job to the best of their ability, and God willing, our people will celebrate victory alongside their leader."

The newspaper noted that Khamenei, as Supreme Leader, has the final say on all major state affairs.

As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he is expected to approve any major military decision, such as an attack on the US base in Qatar or a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

According to the American newspaper, senior military commanders and government officials have been tight-lipped about whether they have met or spoken with Khamenei in recent days.

It is necessary to congratulate you on the field in which you entered the countryside of Iran. Show more:

First; Congratulations to Pirozi for the Zionist diet. —KHAMENEI.IR | Faris 🇮🇷 (@Khamenei_fa)
June 26, 2025