In Tehran, Iran’s key figures and the brothers of the upcoming supreme leader attended funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This public appearance indicates a new level of confidence concerning their safety as tensions with the U.S. escalate. The large gathering at the funeral occurred amid calls for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The event saw massive participation, something that would have been out of question during the Iran war. Opening airstrikes on February 28 had killed the 86-year-old Khamenei and several other officials. Israel targeted those visibly present during the conflict for attacks. Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, remains hidden, reportedly injured in the attack that killed his father. Israel continues to pose a threat to his life as he leads negotiations with the U.S. for a lasting settlement and tackles tensions in the Strait of Hormuz impacting global energy supplies.
“I heard the call for revenge, but our leader should say what we need to do,” said Ziba Naderi, a nurse attending the event.
Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a Shiite cleric, conducted prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for Khamenei and his family. Khamenei’s sons, unseen since the war, made an appearance. General Ahmad Vahidi of the Revolutionary Guard, appearing publicly for the first time since the war on Thursday, was present. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Esmail Qaani of the Quds Force also attended.
Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla expressed a desire for the deaths of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mohammad Rasouli, a poet who led the event, incited the crowd with chants against the U.S. and Israel. His speech marked the first official instance of threats against Trump during the funeral.
While Trump spoke in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, tensions at the funeral intensified. Among the mourners, many demanded retaliation for Khamenei’s death. Reports have tracked Iranian threats against Trump since the 2020 directive to kill Quds Force leader Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Despite Iranian denials, propaganda visuals hint at threats against Trump.
The funeral impedes current negotiations with the U.S. About ending the ongoing conflict. Khamenei’s body will travel to cities in Iran and Iraq, with public processions planned. Streets and airspace will be closed, affecting daily life until the burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on Thursday.
While authorities did not release attendance figures, the turnout underscores Iran’s intention to leverage its control over the Strait of Hormuz amid fears of further Israeli aggression.
“Our foreign policy should be assertive in ensuring respect for our leader’s sacrifice,” stated mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi.
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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