President Pezeshkian Cites National Unity at Ayatollah Khamenei Funeral

President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the massive funeral processions for the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, symbolize national unity and cohesion in Iran. Speaking at a cabinet session on Wednesday, Pezeshkian described the millions of people who gathered in Tehran and Qom as an epic display of support that serves as a shield against foreign threats.

Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on February 28 in an airstrike on his Tehran office, an event that initiated a U.S.-Israeli military offensive aimed at regime change. While a ceasefire ended the conflict in early April, Pezeshkian asserted that the government will use current public support to resist foreign pressure and disrupt the ambitions of its adversaries.

Following the ceremonies, Pezeshkian thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a high-ranking Pakistani delegation for attending the state funeral in Tehran. In a post on X, the president expressed gratitude for the sympathy shown by the government and people of Pakistan, stating that the deep cultural bonds between the two nations would continue to expand bilateral relations.