Iranian Hebrew-Speaker Describes Low Turnout and Tensions at Khamenei Funeral

An Iranian Hebrew-speaking resident of Tehran provided a contrasting account of the mourning events for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during an interview on the Israeli news program "The International Hour" on Kan 11 News. He stated that despite the regime declaring four days of public mourning and extensive propaganda efforts to ensure large funeral attendance, even the largest mosque in Iran was not filled, and many streets showed sparse crowds.

He reported that tensions arose between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces, with accusations directed at event organizers for poor management and failing to mobilize enough participants. The interviewee also claimed that Iranian state television footage was misleading, focusing on flattering close-up shots to create the illusion of a massive crowd, which did not reflect the actual situation.

According to him, most citizens were indifferent to the mourning ceremonies and used the holiday to rest, travel, and spend time with family. Some cynically referred to the break as the "Khamenei party," viewing it primarily as additional days off. He noted that many Iranians, including regime opponents, supporters, and even some Revolutionary Guards and Basij members, believe the conflict with Israel is ongoing and may reignite.

Regarding attitudes toward Israel and the United States, he said many Iranians are disappointed with Washington, which they see as favoring agreements with the regime. Conversely, some Iranians view Israel as a force willing to continue opposing the Islamic Republic and thus place greater hope in it than in the U.S.