{"id":1633,"date":"2026-07-01T19:38:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T19:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/07\/01\/iran-after-khamenei-what-direction-after-supreme-leaders-funeral\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T19:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T19:38:01","slug":"iran-after-khamenei-what-direction-after-supreme-leaders-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1633","title":{"rendered":"Iran after Khamenei: What direction after Supreme Leader&#8217;s funeral?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"t-content t-content--edition\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Iran after Khamenei: What direction after Supreme Leader&#8217;s funeral?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-video-player o-video-player--16x9 t-content__main-media \" data-media-video-31a41e4b-d78a-4445-87d8-567482aac84c data-show-hidden-video-player=\"31A41E4B-D78A-4445-87D8-567482AAC84C\" data-wrapper-video-player data-autoplay-video-link data-youtube-script>\n<div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices                <\/p>\n<p><\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"o-em-adblock\" data-adblock-content>\n<div class=\"o-em-adblock__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-adblock__content__text\">One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.<\/p>\n<p>            <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"reload\">Try again<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/48d89ea8-7575-11f1-b5e7-005056bfb2b6\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-01T162550Z-1925746408-RC2U4MADR8LX-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/48d89ea8-7575-11f1-b5e7-005056bfb2b6\/w:388\/p:16x9\/2026-07-01T162550Z-1925746408-RC2U4MADR8LX-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/48d89ea8-7575-11f1-b5e7-005056bfb2b6\/w:720\/p:16x9\/2026-07-01T162550Z-1925746408-RC2U4MADR8LX-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/48d89ea8-7575-11f1-b5e7-005056bfb2b6\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-01T162550Z-1925746408-RC2U4MADR8LX-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Preparations have started across Iran for the upcoming funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, assassinated on day one of the war with Israel and the US, on February 28.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n    Cover image:            Preparations have started across Iran for the upcoming funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, assassinated on day one of the war with Israel and the US, on February 28.        via REUTERS &#8211; Majid Asgaripour    <\/figcaption><div class=\"m-item-image__overlay-wrapper\">\n                <button class=\"m-main-media-btn\" aria-label=\"Iran after Khamenei: What direction after Supreme Leader's funeral?: Play the video\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"m-main-media-btn__picto\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-circle-loader\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<time class=\"a-media-time\">44:38<\/time>                <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-hidden-video-player=\"31A41E4B-D78A-4445-87D8-567482AAC84C\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-07-01T18:22:37+00:00\">01\/07\/2026 &#8211; 20:22<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__video-duration\">\n<p>                            44:38 min\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__page-cta\">\n<div class=\"a-audio-player-btn a-audio-player-btn--skeleton a-audio-player-btn--cta\" data-root-audio-player-button data-short-lived-vue-app data-site-nav-close>\n<p>                    <span class=\"a-audio-player-btn__label\">Play (44:48 min) <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                                        <span class=\"a-svg a-svg--icon-audio\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-circle-loader\">\n<\/div>\n<p>                <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/tv-shows\/debate\/\" class=\"t-content__program m-program\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-program__label\">From the show<\/div>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/18d565da-0f3c-11ee-a3bf-005056bfb2b6\/EN-the-debate.svg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/18d565da-0f3c-11ee-a3bf-005056bfb2b6\/EN-the-debate.svg\" alt=\"The Debate\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img  a-img--svg\"><\/p>\n<p>                    <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"t-content__reading-time a-reading-time\">\n<p>                        <span class=\"t-content__reading-time__label\">Reading time<\/span><br \/>\n                        1 min<\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        Some days they talk. Some days they fight.\u00a0Iran and the United States have settled into a pattern since the truce signed last month. This Wednesday in Doha&#8230; they\u2019re sort of talking. Both sides present in indirect negotiations. Whatever comes of that, the attention&#8217;s now shifting to Tehran,\u00a0where the Islamic Republic\u2019s preparing for Friday\u2019s kickoff of four days of state funeral proceedings for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with the regime boasting of a growing list of foreign dignitaries, a show of strength for a regime that\u2019s more than rebounded since Khamenei was killed on the very first day of the war. A funeral intended as a victory lap for a leadership that\u2019s always revered martyrdom? Definitely.\u00a0                <\/p>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>But does that mask the reality that the Iran war&#8217;s resulted in a lose-lose situation? And with Khamenei\u2019s son and successor yet to show signs of life, who really is in charge? Are we also witnessing the funeral of a theocracy, replaced instead with a military dictatorship? More broadly, how will the masters of Tehran deal both with a region that\u2019s working on how to bypass its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and a population that still has to grapple with corruption, rampant inflation and the cruel legacy of the New Year\u2019s crackdown on protests that left untold dead or imprisoned?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Produced by Fran\u00e7ois Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Riham Mahir, Charles Wente.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors t-content__authors--multiple\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:177\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg 177w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg 388w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100px, 170px\" width=\"388\" height=\"388\" alt=\"Fran\u00e7ois Picard\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/francois-picard\/\" title=\"Fran\u00e7ois PICARD\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Fran\u00e7ois PICARD<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n                                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/rebecca-gnignati\/\" title=\"Rebecca GNIGNATI\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Rebecca GNIGNATI<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n                                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/juliette-laffont\/\" title=\"Juliette Laffont\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Juliette Laffont<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n                                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/charles-wente\/\" title=\"Charles WENTE\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Charles WENTE<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n                                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/riham-mahir\/\" title=\"Riham Mahir\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Riham Mahir<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                Video by:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author m-author--small m-author--has-image\">\n<div class=\"m-author__image\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:177\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg 177w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3a004830-e086-11ee-af8f-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/p:1x1\/avatar-Fran%C3%A7ois_Picard.jpg 388w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100px, 170px\" width=\"388\" height=\"388\" alt=\"Fran\u00e7ois Picard\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/francois-picard\/\" title=\"Fran\u00e7ois PICARD\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Fran\u00e7ois PICARD<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Related keywords<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/nuclear-iran\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"nuclear Iran\">    nuclear Iran<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Strait of Hormuz\">    Strait of Hormuz<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/ayatollah-ali-khamenei\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\">    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/mojtaba-khamenei\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Mojtaba Khamenei\">    Mojtaba Khamenei<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran after Khamenei: What direction after Supreme Leader&#8217;s funeral? 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