A powerful general leading Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has appeared publicly for the first time in months, as Tehran prepares for the dayslong funeral of its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photos shared by Iranian state media on Friday showed Gen. Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting concerning the funeral of Khamenei, who was 86. Vahidi was also seen alongside Khamenei's casket during a smaller service held Thursday night near the supreme leader's former residence in downtown Tehran.
Vahidi is considered a significant figure in shaping Iran's firm stance during negotiations for a potential permanent end to the war with the United States. Experts believe he is part of a small group with direct communication lines to Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The new supreme leader has reportedly been in hiding after sustaining injuries in Feb. 28 Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The elder Khamenei died in the initial moments of an Israeli airstrike during the war, according to state media. A video released by Iranian state media depicted the mourning ceremony held near the husseiniyah at Khamenei's compound in Tehran. The report indicated Khamenei's body was placed in a coffin on a stage, with red tulips arranged in front of it, and what appeared to be paper butterflies suspended from the ceiling.
Mourners, identified by state media as relatives of individuals who lost family members in the 2025 war and the recent Iran war, engaged in a common Iranian practice by throwing scarves and other items for attendees to brush against the coffin. Later, state media displayed images of Khamenei's casket covered by a red flag bearing white calligraphy that read "Ya Hussein,” a Shiite expression honoring the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. This flag traditionally flies over the Imam Hussein golden-domed shrine in Karbala, Iraq, and symbolizes both unjust shedding of blood and a call for retribution.
On Friday morning, security forces carried Khamenei's coffin, now draped in the Iranian flag, by hand to the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. Religious leaders, officials, and foreign dignitaries passed by the coffin of Khamenei, as well as those of his deceased family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.
Iran is scheduled to hold a dayslong funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei beginning Saturday. His body is expected to be transported to cities in both Iran and neighboring Iraq. Authorities are planning extensive disruptions in Tehran, including street closures and airspace restrictions, to accommodate the commemoration of Khamenei’s life. He led Iran for decades, governing with a firm hand while frequently confronting Western nations.