PNN – On Thursday, Russian media outlets published numerous reports on the magnificent funeral procession for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in the holy city of Mashhad and republished the biography of this martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; reporting from Moscow, Russian media noted that Iranians held the funeral ceremony for their martyred leader in Mashhad, undeterred by the threats and attacks launched by the United States over the past day and night. Russian experts also took note of the smooth conduct of the farewell ceremonies, viewing the event as a testament to the stability and cohesion surrounding the leadership in Iran, despite the hostile attacks and efforts by the U.S. and the Zionist regime.
A RIA Novosti correspondent reported that tens of thousands of people gathered near the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in the Iranian city of Mashhad—despite recent US airstrikes—to attend the funeral and burial ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei. The Russian state media outlet added that participants in the ceremony chanted religious slogans while holding national flags and images of their martyred leader.
RT also quoted a citizen attending the funeral procession of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution as saying: I came because I feel a sense of duty; despite the current situation, I cannot refrain from paying my respects to a leader who sacrificed his life in the service of his homeland.
TASS news agency also reported, citing Iranian officials, that at least 4,700 foreign pilgrims from 27 countries had arrived in Mashhad to attend the funeral procession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Russian outlet’s correspondent noted that these individuals had gathered at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) the previous night to have the opportunity for a final farewell to Ayatollah Khamenei.
TASS further reported that Iranian pilgrims are demanding swift retaliation against those responsible for the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei. Citing an Iranian citizen, the Russian media outlet also noted that, according to Ayatollah Khamenei’s teachings, all nations of the Middle East must unite in the struggle against Israel and the United States.
This Iranian citizen emphasized: Our revenge will take the form of Israel’s defeat in the occupied territories, as well as the defeat of Trump and the United States in the region. The report also notes that hundreds of journalists from around the world—including from Western nations—have arrived in Mashhad to cover the farewell ceremony for Khamenei; special locations on the rooftops of certain hotels have been made available to them for high-quality photography and filming.
Coinciding with the farewell and funeral ceremonies for the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution, the TASS news agency republished a biography of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. This official Russian media outlet described Ayatollah Khamenei as a religious scholar and a revolutionary figure, highlighting his history of struggle leading up to the victory of the Islamic Revolution under Imam Khomeini, as well as his contributions in the years following the revolution’s triumph. TASS noted that political analysts have described Ayatollah Khamenei as a master of balance in domestic politics and a symbol of the struggle against the United States and the Israeli regime on the international stage.
Citing the works and writings of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution, this Russian media outlet added that Ayatollah Khamenei supported economic privatization in the country and believed in the advancement of scientific knowledge; for instance, he was among the first Islamic scholars to endorse stem cell research.
The Russian website “Expert,” in an analysis of the extensive farewell and funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei, interpreted the event as conveying the message that Iran has not only avoided defeat in its conflict with the United States and Israel but has actually emerged stronger.
Kirill Semyonov, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, told this Russian news outlet regarding the ceremony held by foreign officials to pay their final respects to the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution: A large number of countries—including some of the US’s Middle Eastern partners such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar—did not decline Tehran’s invitation, despite behind-the-scenes efforts by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Grigory Lukyanov, a researcher at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, also stated that for Persian Gulf states, participation in the farewell ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was viewed as a significant way to establish—or, for some, recalibrate—relations with Iran. Lukyanov noted that the massive scale of the farewell and funeral events for the martyred leader serves to demonstrate that Iran has only grown stronger amidst its conflict with the United States and Israel; these events also underscore the legitimacy of the “Resistance” and the bond between the leadership and the people.
This Russian Orientalist noted that the willingness of millions of Iranians to defend their country and the leadership of their political system has been demonstrated in recent days. Nikolai Sukhov, a prominent researcher at the Center for Middle East Studies within the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (Russian Academy of Sciences), also stated that Iranian authorities successfully organized massive rallies—drawing millions to bid farewell to their martyred leader—ensured security, and conducted these events without any signs of instability; this situation demonstrates the continued viability of Iran’s political system amidst Washington’s ongoing hostile policy toward Tehran, thereby conveying a significant foreign policy message to the world.