Iran lays Ayatollah Khamenei to rest amid calls for vengeance

The procession moved slowly toward the gilt dome of the shrine as crowds brandished red placards demanding the death of U.S. President Donald Trump. While the state orchestrated the event to project unity and revolutionary fervor, the succession remains shrouded in uncertainty. Mojtaba Khamenei, named Supreme Leader by a clerical assembly following his father’s February 28 assassination, has not appeared in public. Sources in Tehran confirm he remains in hiding, recovering from severe injuries sustained during the strike that killed the former leader and four family members.

This transition occurs as Iran grapples with the fallout of a brutal crackdown on domestic dissent and a crippled economy. Although the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retains a firm grip on the state, the late Ayatollah’s legacy faces internal scrutiny after decades of consolidated power. The military continues to prioritize security, limiting the new leader's exposure to prevent further attacks. As the funeral cortege arrived, the atmosphere remained volatile, with mourners chanting long-standing slogans against the United States and Israel, underscoring the deep-seated ideological conflict that persists despite the shifting political landscape.