Iran’s chief officials and the siblings of the newly appointed supreme leader attended the funeral of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday. This public appearance in Tehran occurred amid increasing threats against U.S. President Donald Trump. The gathering in the capital, attracting thousands, marked a stark contrast to the Iran war’s outset. On February 28, airstrikes claimed the life of the 86-year-old Khamenei and others. Israel was implicated in a targeted strike on leaders appearing publicly during the conflict. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, remains out of sight following injuries reportedly sustained in the airstrike on his father. Israel’s threats to kill him have intensified as he engages with the United States to negotiate an end to the conflict and address Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, which affects global energy supplies.
Ziba Naderi, a nurse attending the funeral, expressed her views. “We must follow Mojtaba Khamenei’s commands,” she stated. “I’m aware of the call for retaliation, but we need our leader’s guidance on the next steps.”
Funeral Prayers and Calls for Revenge
Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a senior Shiite cleric, led prayers for Khamenei and his family at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla. The presence of Khamenei’s sons – Masoud, Meysam, and Mostafa – marked their first public appearance since the war. Revolutionary Guard Head Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, unseen until recently, was identifiable amid a security detachment. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf attended alongside Esmail Qaani, leader of the Guard’s Quds Force. Posters at the Grand Mosalla displayed threats to Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mohammad Rasouli, who spoke before the prayers, incited chants of “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” He questioned Trump’s survival aloud, inciting cheers. This was the first direct threat to Trump during the funeral.
Escalating Threats Against Trump
President Trump, simultaneously delivering a speech in Washington, D.C., highlighted U.S. military success, mentioning efforts against Venezuela and Iran. He claimed, “We wiped out their military.” A significantly larger crowd attended the funeral Sunday, many demanding Trump’s death. Gholamreza Sabooni, a grocery worker, stated his purpose at the event, “I came to call for revenge. They killed our leader; we should kill Trump.”
U.S. agencies have tracked threats against Trump for years following the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Despite Iran’s denials of any assassination plans, propaganda often portrayed Trump as a target. During the conflict, Trump threatened Iran extensively, vowing to obliterate its civilization.
Funeral Delays in U.S. Talks
Khamenei’s body will be transported across Iran and into Iraq, with plans to parade the casket through Tehran on Monday. Streets, airspace, and daily activities will halt for mourning until the burial on Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Authorities haven’t released attendance figures for Saturday and Sunday. Throughout Iran, additional mourning ceremonies proceeded concurrently.
Negotiations with the U.S. are on hold until the funeral concludes. Mobilizing significant crowds may bolster Iran’s negotiation position, particularly concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as fears of further Israeli attacks persist.
Mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi shared his perspective on Iran’s foreign policy, expressing a desire for a firm stance against countries challenging Iran. “We shouldn’t allow our leader’s martyrdom to be desecrated without decisive government and diplomatic reactions,” he stated.