Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will lead the prayers on Friday, the first time in five years. This will be followed by a commemoration ceremony for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month.
The prayers will kick off at 10:30 am Tehran time at Grand Mosalla Mosque. Besides Nasrallah, the Supreme Leader will also pray for his companions, including Iranian General Abbas Nilforushan. The event will mark Khamenei's first public appearance since rumours began circulating that Iran has moved him to a secure location in the wake of Nasrallah's death. This also comes three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Today, Iranians have come to Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran with great enthusiasm to offer Friday prayers under the leadership of the great leader of Iran, Mr. Khamenei.#Khamenei#Iran pic.twitter.com/wxfzyDvZjs
— Afra (@Afra82298666) October 4, 2024
The last time Khamenei led Friday prayers was in January 2020 after the US airstrike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Qassem Soleimani.
Thousands of Hezbollah supporters staged a protest outside the former US embassy building in Tehran on Thursday to protest against "Israel's crimes". Khamenei had declared public mourning in Iran for Nasrallah and on Wednesday said that the Hezbollah chief's death was "not a small matter".
The Supreme Leader had met students and scientists on Wednesday in his first public appearance since ordering a missile attack on Israel. Though Tehran says he was still in mourning over the death of Nasrallah, "being in mourning does not mean being depressed and sitting in a corner."
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi landed in Beirut on Friday. Lebanese state media said an Iranian-flagged plane landed at Beirut airport. This comes as Israel continues to strike the airport perimeter.
Araqchi will meet Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who is a close ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah. But, the purpose of his visit is not clear.
