Anger and vengeance in Iran as country buries its longest-serving leader

Iran is mourning the loss of its longest-serving supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who ruled for nearly four decades. This marks only the second time in the Islamic Republic's 50-year history that the nation has buried a supreme leader, with Khamenei being the only one many Iranians have ever known.

The funeral events, particularly the procession through Tehran, were deeply emotional. A pervasive anger was directed at the United States, with many mourners vowing revenge against then-U.S. President Trump for the assassination of their leader. Slogans like "no negotiation with Satan" and "curse be upon he who negotiates" were scrawled on walls at the Mosalla mosque complex where Khamenei lay in state.

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no negotiation with Satan

Adding to the charged atmosphere, U.S. bombs and missiles struck across Iran in retaliation for Iranian attacks on civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. News of the airstrikes reached Tehran on Wednesday, following two wars in nine months, creating a sense of tired resignation among some.

Despite the official narrative, signs of dissent were visible. Videos circulated on social media, shared by both pro- and anti-government accounts, purportedly showed a rock being thrown at Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as he walked through Tehran. While CNN could not independently verify the video, it offered a glimpse into the complex sentiments within the country.

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curse be upon he who negotiates