Foreign Delegations Attend Khamenei Funeral as US Warns of Limited Patience with Iran
Foreign delegations began arriving in Tehran on Friday to pay respects at the week-long funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose coffin was placed at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla beside those of family members killed alongside him.
Iranian officials brought forward the start of ceremonies to accommodate early arrivals, including lower-level representatives from Russia, China, India and Turkey. No major world leaders from global powers attended, with guests largely consisting of Shiite delegations, religious representatives and members of political groups aligned with Tehran – per Iran International.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would resume proportionate measures if the United States and Israel failed to honour the understandings reached with Tehran. He told a visiting Chinese official that Iran would not allow US interference in the Strait of Hormuz and that close coordination with China was important to reduce tensions.
The Iranian army chief, Amir Hatami, vowed revenge for Khamenei’s death, while Revolutionary Guards warned that any new aggression would be met with a stronger response than before. Hardline clerics in Tehran and Ahvaz used Friday prayers to stress unquestioning obedience to the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and to warn against any ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian permission.
President Masoud Pezeshkian described Khamenei’s death as the beginning of a new chapter of national unity, while Trump said the United States was getting along well with Iran and that recent meetings in Qatar had gone positively.
US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz told Iran International that few would shed tears at Khamenei’s funeral, accusing him of having “his own people’s blood” on his hands. He warned that President Trump’s patience with Iran was not unlimited, particularly over disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
NATO leaders are expected to declare at their upcoming July 7 summit that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon and must fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The funeral comes as diplomatic efforts to reduce friction between Iran and the United States are heightened, with discussions reportedly underway on resuming Iranian oil exports to countries such as Japan.
Iranian authorities have warned against any miscalculation by adversaries during the mourning period. The ceremonies are expected to draw large crowds over the coming days as the country observes a period of national mourning.
