Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Laid to Rest, Iran Issues Stern Warning to US and Israel

Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel not to launch any attacks during the state funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has stressed that any form of aggression will be met with a firm military response. “We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the US and the Zionist regime [Israel], to avoid miscalculation and to consider the severe retaliation that our armed forces will carry out against any threat and aggression towards our country,” said Ali Abdollahi, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, in a statement broadcast by state media on Thursday. The funeral processions for Khamenei are scheduled to commence in Tehran on 4 July. The commemorations will continue until 9 July before the body is laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad. Several additional ceremonies will also be held in Qom and Iraq during this period. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier issued a similar warning, asserting that Tehran would deliver a swift and powerful response to any threat targeting the Iranian people or its leadership. Araqchi’s statement came after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly stated that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was “a target for assassination.” According to Araqchi, such threats only increase the risk of escalating conflict in the region. “Tehran will provide an immediate and strong response to any threat against its people or leadership,” Araqchi stressed in a statement on Wednesday. Amid rising tensions, Iranian media reported that the government has tightened security ahead of the funeral processions. Security forces have been placed on alert at various locations that will serve as centres for the final tributes to Khamenei. Furthermore, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation announced temporary airspace restrictions over several cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, effective during the processions. The measure was taken to bolster security amid concerns over potential foreign threats.