Khamenei breaks 37-year-old ritual, skips annual Air Force meet amid US tensions

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei did not attend the annual February 8 meeting with army air force commanders, breaking a 37-year tradition since assuming leadership in 1989.

Instead of Khamenei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi met the army air force commanders on Sunday.

The annual meeting marks the anniversary of February 8, 1979, when a group of air force officers pledged allegiance to Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic and Khamenei’s predecessor as Supreme Leader. The event later became a symbolic tradition, with air force personnel and commanders meeting Iran’s leader on the same date every year.

Khamenei had followed the tradition consistently since becoming Supreme Leader and had continued the annual meeting even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His absence this year comes at a time of escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, with the United States expanding its military presence in the region.

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