New Delhi, July 6 -- Iran's Supreme Leader, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suddenly disappeared for nearly two weeks during recent fighting with Israel. According to reports, he hadn't been seen since June 11, just before Israel started bombing Iran on June 13.

Khamenei finally stepped back into view on July 5 at a mourning ceremony in Tehran. Looking thin but calm, he sat quietly while crowds marked Ashura, a holy day for Muslims. His surprise return came as Iran faces huge challenges: Nuclear sites lie in ruins, with the U.S. saying Iran's atomic program is "obliterated". Iran has now stopped working with UN nuclear inspectors.

More trouble brews inside Iran's government too. Powerful army groups are fighting for control once Kha...