For just the second time in the nearly 50-year history of the Islamic Republic, the country has buried a supreme leader. Ali Khamenei ruled Iran – as a spiritual leader and an iron-fisted autocrat – for nearly four decades. For many in Iran, he’s the only leader they have known.
Then, as the frenzied funeral events reached their climax, US bombs and missiles struck across the country in retaliation at Iranian strikes on civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. After two wars in nine months, there was a sense of tired resignation when news of the airstrikes hit Tehran Wednesday.
The funeral events – especially Monday’s procession through Tehran – were highly emotional affairs. Anger at America – and above all Trump – was everywhere. Every day, dozens of mourners would come up to us with promises to kill the US president in revenge for the assassination of their leader.
That doesn’t mean we only heard blind obedience to the party line.
Scrawled in chalk on the walls segregating men and women at the giant Mosalla mosque complex where Khamenei lay in state this week were slogans of “no negotiation with Satan” and “curse be upon he who negotiates.” Meanwhile, video circulated on social media by both pro and anti-government accounts this week puportedly showing a rock being thrown at the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as he walked through the streets of Tehran. CNN has not been able to independently verify the video.
Just a week in the Iranian capital has offered an eye-opening insight into where the country is today. Read about it here.
CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control of its reports.
