Momentary Unity at a Funeral Masks Deep Divisions Among Iran’s Leaders

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence has sparked questions within Iranian political circles about the true leadership of the country. His absence has exposed deep-seated divisions.

During the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian officials and military leaders gathered to pay their respects. The late supreme leader was killed at the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The funeral, which lasted a week starting Friday, was intended to display Iran’s resilience and unity amid ongoing conflict.

The event featured a military anthem and brought together leaders who had not appeared jointly in public for months due to the war. Present were the president, the parliamentary speaker, the judiciary head, and top generals from the Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Conspicuously absent was Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Appointed as the new supreme leader in March, he has not been seen publicly since then. His absence has intensified disputes among senior Iranian officials and politicians over negotiations with the U.S. They have accused each other of deception, treason, and undermining Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership.

At a recent Tehran rally, hard-line strategist Hassan Rahimpour-Azghadi condemned any talks of peace with the U.S., calling instead for retaliation following the leader’s death. Ayatollah Khamenei attempted to calm the situation with a written statement, but it only fueled more dissent.

Hard-line supporters have insisted they will relent only if the new leader publicly appears or provides an audio message, highlighting ongoing tensions and demands for transparency.