Khamenei's Funeral: Iranian Officials Meet Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthi Leaders

Senior Iranian officials have capitalised on the week of national mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reinforce their commitment to the Axis of Resistance. According to a series of official statements and photographs released by the Foreign Ministry and state media, Tehran conducted a series of intensive diplomatic meetings with its allied groups in the region.

Muhammad Fneish, a Hezbollah politician on the United States sanctions list, reportedly met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on 4 July, followed by a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on 5 July. During the meetings, both sides discussed Hezbollah’s actions against Israel and offered condolences for the deaths of several leaders in the conflict. The Iranian side stressed that Hezbollah would continue to carry out its Islamic and revolutionary duties within the resistance front.

Additionally, Araghchi received a visit from Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, Vice President of Lebanon’s Supreme Islamic Shiite Council. On that occasion, the Iranian Foreign Minister affirmed Tehran’s commitment to ending the aggression and occupation of the Zionist regime in Lebanon.

Support for the Axis of Resistance also came from the leadership of Hamas. Muhammad Ismail Darwish, Chairman of the Hamas Shura Council based in Qatar, was seen attending a meeting in Tehran. Darwish stated that Iran would never make peace with the United States nor recognise Israel’s sovereignty. He added that Iran’s success in facing American pressure is a victory for the entire Axis of Resistance and the Muslim community.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Houthi group from Yemen, Mohammad al-Nuaimi, also held talks with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. According to a report by the Mehr news agency, Al-Nuaimi asserted that the Houthis would remain in the ‘same trench’ for the sake of the global Muslim community. The collective statements from these leaders indicate that despite Iran undergoing a leadership transition following Khamenei’s death, its foreign policy towards its regional proxies remains unchanged and is, in fact, becoming more solidified.