As US-Iran Conflict Escalates, Khamenei Buried: Fear of War in the Region

Iran buried former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Meşhed on Friday, after he lost his life in an airstrike on 28 Şubat. A massive crowd attended the funeral ceremony held at the İmam Rıza Shrine in the city of Meşhed, located in the east of the country. The flag-draped coffin, accompanied by prayers, was carried to the monument hall of the shrine during the ceremony and was buried there. This burial, which marked the end of six days of intensive funeral events, was broadcast live across the country by the state television IRIB. It was noteworthy that his son and successor, Mucteba Khamenei, who was appointed after the former leader's death, did not appear at any public events.

The ceremony took place under the shadow of the second day of mutual attacks between Washington and Tehran forces. While Iranian officials announced that 17 people lost their lives in US attacks, state media announced that one of these targets was the railway line between Tahran and Meşhed. Following the strike on the railway line, the route, which was considered risky in terms of transportation safety, was closed and train passengers in the region were directed to buses. Senior officials, including Parliament Speaker Muhammed Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Khamenei's eldest son Mustafa Khamenei, were seen present at the shrine. In the footage, it was noted that some senior figures shed tears at the coffin of the former leader.

Mucteba Khamenei has only communicated through written statements since his appointment, and he is reported to have been injured in the 28 Şubat attacks. The Islamic Republic administration officially confirmed that they continue their attacks on US assets and bases in Kuveyt, Bahreyn, and Katar through drones. In response, a US Department of Defense official claimed that dozens of missiles and drones fired by Iran were neutralized and that there were no casualties among American personnel. Furthermore, it was reported that the US military did not actively carry out any new airstrikes within Iran's borders during this period of intensified conflict. The extraordinary tension in the region is also evident from the fact that the plane carrying Khamenei's coffin was secured by at least one fighter jet during its arrival in Meşhed.

Some segments of the public showed their anger towards the US by frequently expressing demands for retaliation and revenge against US President Donald Trump. According to a report by Wall Street Journal, based on undisclosed sources, İsrail shared intelligence with the US indicating that its intelligence units had detected a new Iranian assassination plot against Trump. Iranian state media claimed that US forces struck the surroundings of Iran's only civilian nuclear plant, located within the borders of Bushehr province, as well as a military headquarters. While demands for regional war and targeting are increasing, İsrail Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated the warning that his country is prepared to attack İran 'for a third time' if necessary, and with much greater force. İsrail Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also stated that he met with Trump and received information regarding recent American military moves in the Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz, which holds a critical position for global energy markets, continues to be one of the main focal points of the conflict. After the Iranian army attacked at least three ships passing through the region in recent days, the US began intensely striking Iranian targets starting on Tuesday. Iran's insistence on keeping this waterway under military control creates a worrying situation for international maritime trade. According to data from the ship tracking company Kpler, ship traffic passing through the strait decreased significantly starting on Wednesday following the ship attacks that occurred earlier this week. This situation reveals how close the devastating effects of a regional war are on the global oil and gas supply chains.