Iran vows revenge as Khamenei is laid to rest amid succession fears

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Tehran on Saturday for the funeral of Ali Khamenei, Iran's long-time leader, marking a significant transition as the founding generation of the 1979 Islamic Revolution departs. The massive crowds congregated at the Mosalla complex, where Khamenei's flag-draped coffin lay alongside those of three family members. Notably absent from the prominent mourners was Mojtaba Khamenei, the son and presumed successor of Ali Khamenei.

According to media reports, the regime harbored fears of an Israeli assassination attempt targeting the new head of state. The 86-year-old Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, the very first day of the American-Israeli offensive against Iran, in an airstrike in Tehran. His death signifies the end of an era for the leaders who fought against the Shah's regime for decades prior to the revolution.

Following Khamenei's death, the United States and Israel had hoped for the regime's collapse. However, the theocratic leadership swiftly appointed 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader of the Islamic Republic within days. He now forms part of a collective leadership that includes the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, and President Massud Pezeshkian, among other politicians and officers. Reports suggest the younger Khamenei may have been severely injured in the war and has not appeared publicly since his appointment.

Unlike his father, Mojtaba Khamenei is not seen as an absolute ruler but rather as the first among equals. The funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei are scheduled to span a week, extending to Iraq, with Iranian authorities anticipating up to 20 million attendees. Dignitaries from 100 countries, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, were expected to attend. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that guests from 100 countries were announced. The leadership in Tehran delayed the funeral services for over four months, fearing that the US and Israel might use the ceremony as an opportunity to assassinate more top politicians and military figures until the official end of the war and the preliminary agreement with the US.

This fear was underscored by a New York Times report, which indicated that the US anticipated Israel might attempt to assassinate Iranian negotiators, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baker Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during ongoing talks with Washington. The report also suggested that the US had confidentially asked several Middle Eastern countries for assistance.