A Bitterly Divided Iran Grapples with Khamenei's Legacy as He Is Laid to Rest
The funeral procession showcased the hard-line leadership's public strength, yet revealed deep societal divisions and ongoing challenges in defining Iran's future political path.
- On Thursday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader who ruled Iran for over three decades, is being laid to rest following his death at the start of the war. Gigantic funeral processions in Tehran showcased hard-liner strength amid deep-seated public discontent.
- Veins of discontent have widened since January, when authorities killed thousands of protesters, fueling unrest that traces back to the 2009 presidential election crackdowns. Economic mismanagement and international sanctions compounded the divisions.
- Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian received 16.3 million votes against 13.5 million for the hard-line candidate in recent elections. An aide to Pezeshkian acknowledged the Islamic Republic is "severely polarized" between hard-core supporters and those seeking its downfall.
- Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor, lent tentative support to talks in a written statement. Leadership relies on an interim deal with the West for economic relief, though Ali Rabiei acknowledged there are "two poles" within society the government could potentially bridge.
- Peacetime poses the real test for the late leader's legacy, said Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group, as rival factions vie to define the future. Governance challenges remain stark, with critics warning that continued repression will trigger further unrest.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Khamenei funeral crowds mask deepening anger and division across Iran
Khamenei's funeral has drawn huge crowds even as Iranians describe a country split by grief, anger and fear. His death now sharpens questions over repression, economic distress and the Islamic Republic's future.
"US Bases Our Problem, Not Neighbours": Iranian Experts On Middle East Attacks
Prof Seyed Emamain, Founder of Governance and Policy Thinktank (GPTT), and Ali Salehian, Head of the International Department GPTT, have spoken to NDTV about the mass uprising against Khamenei's rule in January to mass support after his death.
A bitterly divided Iran grapples with Khamenei’s legacy as he is laid
CAIRO: He is the grandson of an influential Shiite cleric, born in Qom — the heart of religious studies in Iran — and raised in a traditional family that embraced the theocracy. But by his late 20s, he had stopped praying and given up on clerical rule. Now, he can barely discuss politics or religion with his siblings and father. The tech worker, now in his mid-30s, says
The Toronto Star
A bitterly divided Iran grapples with Khamenei’s legacy as he is laid to rest
CAIRO (AP) — He is the grandson of an influential Shiite cleric, born in Qom — the heart of religious studies in Iran — and raised in a traditional family that embraced the theocracy. But by his late 20s, he…
Associated Press News
A bitterly divided Iran grapples with Khamenei's legacy as he is laid to rest
He is the grandson of an influential Shiite cleric, born in Qom — the heart of religious studies in Iran — and raised in a traditional family that embraced the theocracy. But by his late 20s, he had stopped praying and given up on clerical rule. Now, he can barely discuss politics or religion with his siblings and father.
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