Iranian TV Releases First Footage of Destruction at Site of Ali Khamenei Attack

Iranian state television has for the first time broadcast footage showing the damage at the complex where former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated in an Israeli strike on February 28, marking the start of Operation Roaring Lion. Khamenei was laid to rest yesterday in Iraq after a funeral procession attended by millions of Iranian citizens. The funeral featured calls for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump, with speakers declaring it a duty to avenge Khamenei's death. Delegations from Hamas and Yemen's Houthi movement also participated in the funeral.

Khamenei's three sons appeared publicly for the first time since his death, though current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was absent. Recent reports indicate Mojtaba is now the central decision-maker in Iran, operating from hiding and effectively acting as Supreme Leader. Security concerns prevented Mojtaba from attending the funeral, as officials feared Israeli assassination attempts or exposure of his location. It is also speculated that Mojtaba has undergone plastic surgery to alter his appearance.

The funeral ceremony took place at the Grand Mosalla Mosque named after Khomeini, with top Iranian officials present, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, and Revolutionary Guards Commander Ahmad Vahidi. Numerous foreign delegations attended, including representatives from Armenia, Pakistan, Russia, China, Central Asian countries, Qatar, Iraq, and Georgia, alongside groups such as Hezbollah, Palestinian organizations, and the Taliban.

The Israeli strike that killed Ali Khamenei also claimed the lives of Chief of Staff Abd al-Rahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and around 40 senior regime officials. Eyewitnesses expressed shock at the attack’s scale, with one participant traveling over 500 kilometers to pay respects and emphasize commitment to defending the nation and religion.