Iran’s Leadership and Public Gather Amid Calls for Retaliation

On Sunday in Tehran, Iran’s top officials and the siblings of the new supreme leader attended funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This marked their first public appearance following increasing calls for action against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The public presence in Tehran was a shift from the restrained period during Iran’s recent conflict. The war began with airstrikes on February 28, which resulted in the death of the 86-year-old Khamenei, his family, and other officials. Israel also targeted others who appeared publicly during the war, often using public appearances to fix targets.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, remains out of public view. Reports suggest he sustained injuries during the airstrike that killed his father. Israel has explicitly threatened him as well. Mojtaba now leads Iran during negotiations with the United States to end the war and mitigate tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy passage.

Among attendees at the funeral, 42-year-old nurse Ziba Naderi expressed that Iran should heed Mojtaba Khamenei’s commands. “I heard the call for revenge, but our leader should say what we need to do,” she stated. “And we must listen to him.”

Funeral Prayers and Calls for Action

The prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla were led by 97-year-old Shiite cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Sons of the late Khamenei, Masoud, Meysam, and Mostafa, appeared for the first time since the conflict’s commencement. Others like Revolutionary Guard head Gen. Ahmad Vahidi were also spotted amidst significant security.

The event saw other notable figures like Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Leaders of the Guard’s expeditionary Quds Force were present despite security concerns.

Posters at the funeral prominently sought retribution against Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Poet Mohammad Rasouli incited chants from the crowd, questioning Trump’s survival and drawing cheers with his commentary.

Heightened Threats Towards Trump

During the funeral in Tehran, Trump simultaneously addressed the 250th anniversary of America’s founding in Washington, D.C., proclaiming success in conflicts like those with Iran.

The funeral, pulling a larger crowd on Sunday, saw mourners with banners and flags both honoring Khamenei and calling for Trump’s demise. Gholamreza Sabooni, a grocery worker, expressed his desire for retaliation, saying, “They killed our imam, we should kill their leader, Trump.”

U.S. officials have continuously monitored threats against Trump, following the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a key figure in the Quds Force. While Iran denies plotting against Trump, its media occasionally references him as a target.

Interruption of U.S. Talks

Khamenei’s remains are set to be transported across Iran and Iraq. Authorities are organizing processions through Tehran, with a final burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on Thursday.

Discussions with the U.S. to permanently end the conflict are paused until the funeral arrangements conclude. The situation remains tense as Iran’s strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical factor in negotiations with the U.S.

Local mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi emphasized the importance of serious international responses to avoid dishonoring their martyred leader.

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Gambrell contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.