What is the significance of Ayatollah Khamenei addressing Friday prayers?
The Iranian leader is trying to reassert his authority after protests and allegations of incompetence in connection with the downing of a Ukrainian plane with the loss of 176 lives.
When he addressed the thousands of worshippers, he praised the military commander, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed earlier this month in a US drone strike.
Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, tells the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Dan Damon about the significance of his speech.
Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Copyright: Getty Images
Duration:
More clips from World Update
-
![]()
Coronavirus: The New York 'falafel guy' struggling to keep going
Duration: 01:45
-
![]()
Coronavirus: Could the crisis change minds about the homeless?
Duration: 03:44
-
![]()
Will Sanders concede after Biden's primary victories?
Duration: 02:36
-
![]()
How is the threat of coronavirus affecting refugees?
Duration: 02:45
