DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, the senior commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, has made his first public appearance in months as Tehran prepares for the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, The Associated Press reported. His re-emergence comes as Iran begins a week of official mourning while attention remains focused on the country’s leadership following the recent conflict.
Photographs published by Iranian state media showed Vahidi attending a meeting on funeral preparations before later appearing beside Khamenei’s casket during a smaller memorial service held Thursday night near the late supreme leader’s former residence in central Tehran.
According to the AP, Vahidi had not appeared publicly since Feb. 8, weeks before the conflict referred to as the Iran war began.
Senior Commander Returns to Public View
The AP reported that Vahidi has become an influential figure in shaping Iran’s position during negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war with the United States.
The report also said Vahidi is believed to be among a small group maintaining direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. According to the AP, Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public view after reportedly being wounded in Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 that killed his father. Those reports were not independently verified in the supplied material.
Funeral Ceremonies Begin in Tehran
Video released by Iranian state media showed mourners gathering at the husseiniyah within Khamenei’s compound in Tehran for an initial farewell ceremony.
State media said Khamenei’s body rested inside a coffin placed on a stage decorated with red tulips, while paper butterflies hung overhead. Mourners, many identified by state media as relatives of people killed during the 12-day war in 2025 and the recent Iran war, took part in traditional mourning rituals by handing scarves and personal belongings to attendants to briefly touch the casket.
Later images broadcast by state media showed the coffin draped with a red flag bearing the inscription “Ya Hussein,” a Shiite expression commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
According to the report, the flag had previously flown above the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, Iraq, and traditionally symbolizes both unjustly shed blood and a call for vengeance within Shiite tradition.
Nationwide Mourning Planned
Iran is scheduled to begin official funeral ceremonies on Saturday at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, where authorities are expected to close roads and suspend much of the city’s normal activity as large crowds gather to pay their respects.
Following the ceremony in the capital, Khamenei’s body will be transported to several cities across Iran as well as neighboring Iraq as part of the extended funeral observances, according to the AP.
The funeral comes during a sensitive period for Iran as the country continues to navigate political transition and diplomatic negotiations following the recent conflict. While preparations for the ceremonies are underway, international attention remains focused on Iran’s evolving leadership and the outcome of efforts to reach a lasting settlement to the war.
Tags: Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ahmad Vahidi, Mojtaba Khamenei, Revolutionary Guard, Tehran, State Funeral, Middle East, Iran Politics, Iraq, Regional Security, Diplomacy
