Edition
IN
English
Weather

TOI

Trending

Khamenei 'MISSING' At Key Iran Air Force Ceremony, Officials Meet Khomeini Grandson Instead

647 views | Feb 09, 2026, 12:45:08 PM | TOI.in
  • Share
A decades-old ritual at the heart of Iran’s power structure has been quietly broken. For the first time in 37 years, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei did not attend the annual February 8th meeting where Iran’s air force commanders traditionally pledge allegiance. Instead of standing before the Supreme Leader, commanders were received by Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder — a shift loaded with symbolism in a system where optics signal authority. Khamenei has upheld this ritual every year since assuming leadership in 1989, even during war, unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. His absence this year, replaced by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, has raised questions at a moment of heightened regional tension and expanding U.S. military presence near Iran. As Tehran faces growing external pressure, the break in tradition has sparked speculation over what message is being sent — and to whom — when a single absence speaks louder than words.

Short Videos

Explore Every Corner
Across The Globe
Cardi BDak Prescott FianceeJustin BieberDanny Cipriani Dating HistoryElmer RodriguezCalgary Flames TradeMegan Thee StallionNFL Mock Draft 2026New Zealand vs Sri Lanka ScorecardPatrik LaineT20 World Cup Points TableRyan Blaney and Gianna Tulio Net WorthTravis Kelce And Taylor Swift RelationshipNFL Trade NewsNHL Trade RumorsSidney CrosbyMel Owens DivorceJessica Pegula ParentsModi Israel VisitRichest Golfers 2025John Cena vs Roman Reigns Net WorthBrock Lesnar ControversyRobyn FlanaganJeju Island travel guideRinku SinghEdwin LutyensUttarakhand High CourtGold silver rateT20 World CupT20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
Living and Entertainment
CricbuzzLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTVTimes PrimeTravel DestinationsWhats HotETimesTimes LifeTimes PetsMyLifeXP
Services
CouponDuniaTechGigTimesJobsBollywood NewsTimes MobileGadgetsTimes EventsWork with UsColombiaTOI Global
Trending Topics
Travis Kelce Taylor Swift WeddingLeBron JamesGianni InfantinoMJP JE Hall Tickets 2026KTET Feb 2026 NotificationPiyush GoyalFlorida PanthersJack EichelBryce YoungAnthony JoshuaSanjay ManjrekarCarl FrochLionel MessiMichael van Gerwen Health UpdateUP Board Class 10 Science Exam 2026Skateboarding World ChampionshipsLucknow Son Kills FatherMontreal CanadiensAnthony DavisBen JohnsonKylie KelceAlex OvechkinHamas AttackCharlie WoodsMichael JordanChloe KimMitchell SantnerWho is Cory SimsB Tech AdmissionsPawan Hans helicopter crashNoida murderJharkhand air ambulance crashShikhar Dhawan’s ex-wifeBhojshala complexGold price predictionAsian stocks todayBengaluru ATM theftsCM Champai SorenRob JettenHow to watch ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in USAHow to watch ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in CanadaHow to watch T20 World Cup online in India
Trending Videos
Big Honour for India: PM Modi Becomes First to Receive Knesset Speaker’s MedalChennai: Supertree Readies To Open, CPI Veteran Nallakannu Passes Away, DMK Target Voters And More"Zero Tolerance For Terrorist Acts..."Jaishankar Sends Strong Message Against Terror at UNHRCIsrael Parliament Echoes with ‘Modi, Modi’ Chants Ahead of PM’s AddressMaxwell’s Prison Life Gets UGLY: Inmate Says She “Smelled Like Armpits” | WATCHNetanyahu Highlights ‘Saffron Connection’ with PM Modi During Tel Aviv Meet'We Feel Your Pain': PM Modi Shares 'Pain Of Terror' With Israel, Slams Hamas And October 7 AttackGujarati Dishes on Menu for PM Modi in Israel, Says Reena PushkarnaYogi Adityanath Interacts with Indian Diaspora in Tokyo, Highlights India-Japan TiesPatna: Rajya Sabha Poll Allies Claim, Doctor Mourned After Air Ambulance Crash, New Parking And MoreABVP Protests 'Anti-National' Kashmir Event At Azim Premji University, 18 Detained After VandalismT20 World Cup: Ryan Burl press conference before India vs Zimbabwe'Will Teach A Lesson': Kiren Rijiju Vows 'Strict Action' In Arunachal Women Racial Abuse CaseIndore: PM-Mitra Push, Exam Baby Shock, E-Target Debut And MoreNoida: CBSE Cancels School Affiliation, CAG Flags GDA Lapses, Vasant Utsav Ends And Moreकिस Sector में छुपा है Jackpot? Multibagger संकेत | बुध की दशा बदलेगी Portfolio | Gaurav MittalNetanyahu Welcomes PM Modi At Tel Aviv AirportSandeep Reddy Vanga Arrives In Udaipur Ahead Of Wedding
Latest News
Flying through Dubai airport? Know the viral 15-phone rule before you packStation rescue alert: RPF foils trafficking bid, rescues two minors at Ranchi station; woman linked to earlier POCSO case heldNFL Combine 2026: Ohio State LB Arvell Reese eyes top five draft spot after breakout seasonHave to put to use what we learned from foreign players: Ayush ChhetriClean sweep push: RMC slaps nearly Rs 4 lakh in fines in citywide cleanliness crackdown; 10 dedicated road teams deployed ahead of surveyTampa Bay Lightning Activate Brayden Point From Injury Reserve After 11-Game AbsenceWho is Larry Summers? Former US treasury secretary set to resign from Harvard professor role over ties with Jeffrey EpsteinJharkhand student dies by suicide in hostel room at CNLUKolhan youth boost: IPS Sidhgora to start MBA, IPM, DCA from 2026-27; MLA hails move to curb students leaving stateJharkhand High Court Rejects ED Case Against Kamlesh Singh's RelativesTight security, surveillance in place ahead of poll countingRanchi Food Safety Crackdown: Holi Vigilance Intensifies After Ghaziabad Paneer ScareBride shot at by neighbour over one-sided love in BuxarYouth shot dead over Rs 5k loan dispute in NalandaRevival process of Sakri Sugar Mill gains momentum after experts’ visitDhanbad Peace Committee Meets Ahead of Holi, Ramadan CelebrationsGovt intensifies road safety efforts with installation of 14k zebra crossings across BiharWoman proudly in love with her AI soulmate opens up about their relationship and intimacy
Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service