Iranian President and Foreign Minister Attacked at Supreme Leader Khamenei's Funeral Amid Political Rift

During the funeral ceremonies of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, violent attacks targeted President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, exposing deep divisions within Iran's leadership. In Tehran, angry crowds surrounded Raisi, shouting slogans such as "Death to the appeaser" and "Death to the traitors," forcing his security to extract him from the scene. Similarly, in Iraq, Araghchi was assaulted with stones and narrowly escaped through an alley while assailants called for his murder and labeled him a traitor.

These attacks reflect the internal conflict triggered by a recent surprising agreement between Iran and the United States, which initiated formal negotiations. Raisi advocates a conciliatory approach to prevent economic collapse, while hardliners loyal to Khamenei and the extremist camp view the deal as a betrayal of the Islamic Revolution's principles. American officials reportedly feared assassination attempts against Iranian negotiators, including Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during the talks.

The political crisis intensified after the publication of a letter attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader's son and presumed successor, who expressed reservations about the agreement but allowed Raisi to sign it only after accepting full responsibility for its outcomes. According to opposition channel Iran International, Raisi sent a formal resignation letter to Mojtaba Khamenei, accusing the government of being excluded from key decision-making processes, which are now controlled by a faction of Revolutionary Guards commanders. Raisi stated that this power vacuum enabled extremist elements to dominate and declared himself unable to fulfill his legal duties under these conditions.

It remains unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei will accept Raisi's resignation, but the letter underscores an unprecedented rift at the highest levels of the Islamic Republic's leadership. Official Iranian sources downplayed the attacks as actions by a small group of extremists, yet the incidents reveal significant fractures amid the ongoing political turmoil.