Millions Mourn Iran's Killed Supreme Leader Amid Security Fears Over Son's Attendance

Millions gathered in Tehran to mourn the recently assassinated Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of Operation "Tiger's Roar." The funeral took place in Mashhad on July 9, where the coffin was laid to rest at the Imam Reza Shrine. The crowd chanted slogans such as "Death to America" and "God's curse on Israel," alongside banners demanding revenge. The ceremony was attended by numerous foreign dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Commander of the Pakistan Army, and representatives from Qatar, Iraq, China, Russia, Hezbollah, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, and Palestinian factions.

Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader, sought to attend his father's burial, but Iranian security officials rejected the request due to fears that Israel might attempt to assassinate him or track his movements back to his hiding place. According to two Revolutionary Guards members and a source involved in the funeral preparations, this refusal reflects deeper internal power struggles within Iran's conservative camp, with various factions vying to influence the new leader and shape Iran's political future.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry reported the discovery of four organized terror cells in southern Iran linked to American-Zionist intelligence services. Five members were arrested, and two were killed in clashes with internal security forces. Additionally, about three months after the assassination of the Revolutionary Guards Navy Commander Ali Reza Tangsiri, Ali Ozmaei was appointed commander of the Fifth Naval District. Ozmaei declared on his social media that divine revenge against America and Israel is imminent.