Iran's Tasnim news agency has reported that 13 countries either withdrew or reduced their participation in the funeral ceremony of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, citing diplomatic pressure from the United States. The report, attributed to a senior source, claims that Washington launched an extensive diplomatic campaign in the days leading up to the event to discourage foreign attendance.
US Diplomatic Campaign Details
According to Tasnim, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued confidential instructions on June 26 to US embassies and diplomatic missions, directing them to use all available means to persuade host countries that attending the ceremony would be considered an "unfriendly act" with potential consequences for bilateral relations with Washington. The source further stated that US ambassadors in several African countries warned that participation could lead to cuts in US development assistance.
Rubio personally discussed the matter with counterparts in at least five Arab countries, based on statements attributed to two unnamed Arab diplomats, the report added.
Countries Affected
The report cited assessments indicating that at least 13 countries—including three Eastern European nations, five African countries, two Persian Gulf Arab states, and two major East Asian countries—either withdrew or reduced their level of representation at the ceremony under US pressure. Some countries attempted to justify their absence through diplomatic channels or conveyed explanations via intermediaries and their missions in Geneva and New York, while others sought to send lower-level representation, which was not accepted by Iranian authorities, according to the source.
Funeral Ceremony and Public Mourning
Public funeral prayers for Ali Khamenei and four members of his family were held in Tehran on Sunday, the second day of the farewell ceremony. Millions of people filled the streets of central Tehran near the Imam Khomeini Grand Musalla, where Khamenei's body had been lying in state since Saturday for public mourning and official farewell ceremonies.
Background of Khamenei's Death
Ali Khamenei was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, earlier this year, leading to a widespread conflict in the West Asia region. Last month, the US and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities and opening a 60-day dialogue window for technical talks, including discussions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.
Succession and Security Concerns
Following Khamenei's death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to Al Jazeera, Mojtaba Khamenei will skip the six days of funeral ceremonies for his father currently underway in Tehran, citing security concerns amid continued Israeli threats to assassinate him.
