Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is reported to have wept bitterly at the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday evening, according to published images from the event.
New images from Friday evening's funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei show Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf overcome with emotion, weeping openly. The display comes at a sensitive moment in the narrative: earlier Friday, at 17:44 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had dismissed the speaker's public grief as insincere, using the slang term 'Wadapak' in response to allegations of 'fake tears' at the graveside. Ghalibaf had called on Iranians to 'sound the cry for blood revenge to the world' during the ceremonies, as earlier reported on Thursday July 2 at 22:16 Jerusalem.
This development is the latest in a fast-moving thread that began on Friday at 17:44 Jerusalem, when an Iranian channel first labeled Ghalibaf's tears 'crocodile tears.' Within the same minute, video footage emerged showing him weeping over Khamenei's coffin, and a source mocked the display with the same phrase. By 17:44 as well, Araghchi's dismissive response was reported. The corroboration has evolved from a single channel's characterization to multiple visual sources and a senior official's on-record dismissal, strengthening the account of internal leadership friction.
As The Zioneer reported on Thursday July 2 at 12:08 Jerusalem, Ghalibaf had previously urged Iranians to 'flood' the funeral and demand 'blood revenge.' The background context, including meetings with Chinese and Iraqi parliamentary delegations on Friday (reported at 14:06 and 10:41 Jerusalem respectively), situates this emotional display within a broader political transition and consolidated leadership around Khamenei's succession.
What remains unverified: No official statement has been issued by Ghalibaf's office regarding the weeping. The authenticity or spontaneity of the tears is debated, with the speaker's own camp yet to address the accusations of insincerity.
5 developments
- StrongGhalibaf calls on Iranians to 'sound the cry for blood revenge to the world' at Khamenei funeral
- StrongMourning, wailing reported at Khamenei's funeral in Iran
- DevelopingIranian state TV anchor breaks down on air speaking about Khamenei
- DevelopingIraqi parliament speaker Haibat al-Halbousi meets Iranian counterpart Ghalibaf in Tehran
Source and signal
- Internal intake