Iran’s week-long state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has sparked criticism from many Iranians, with questions raised over the scale of public spending, attendance at the ceremonies and what critics say was an attempt by the authorities to project political strength despite mounting economic hardship.
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According to Iran International, images and videos from the main funeral ceremony in Tehran prompted widespread debate on social media, with many Iranians claiming attendance was lower than expected despite an extensive state mobilisation campaign. The report said messages sent to the outlet alleged that government employees, security personnel, organised transport, free meals and public holidays were used to boost turnout, yet the designated venue still failed to fill.
The criticism came even as Iranian state media portrayed the funeral as a massive display of national unity. Television footage showed large crowds lining Tehran's streets as Khamenei's flag-draped coffin was carried through the capital before being flown to the holy city of Qom. Mourners dressed in black reached out to touch the coffin, while attendants sprayed water over the crowds in the summer heat.
Authorities shut roads, closed airspace and suspended normal public activities for the mourning period, which began on Saturday and will conclude with Khamenei's burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
Many mourners chanted slogans calling for revenge against the United States and Israel, with some carrying banners calling for the deaths of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The funeral comes as Tehran and Washington remain at odds over efforts to negotiate a lasting settlement following the recent conflict.
However, much of the public criticism focused on the economic cost of the elaborate ceremonies. According to Iran International, many Iranians questioned the use of public funds for a grand state funeral while the country continues to grapple with soaring inflation, declining purchasing power and rising living costs. Some said families had been forced to cut meat and other protein from their diets, arguing that the government's spending priorities appeared detached from the realities facing ordinary citizens.
