Pahlavi Calls Funeral a Political Show
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, has strongly criticized the state funeral held for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In a statement posted on X, Pahlavi said the large ceremony should not be seen as a true sign of national mourning. He argued that foreign representatives attending the funeral should not assume that the Iranian people were grieving Khamenei’s death.
Millions of people attended the funeral ceremony, while representatives from several countries also took part and paid tribute. However, Pahlavi described the event as a state-backed political display. He claimed the funeral was organized to project public unity, but did not reflect the real mood inside Iran.
Exiled Shah’s Son Says Iran Is Angry, Not Mourning
Pahlavi alleged that Iran was not mourning Khamenei. He claimed that many Iranians were instead remembering thousands of people killed during past protests and crackdowns. He accused Iran’s leadership of using public money to stage what he called a propaganda spectacle.
He also claimed that no democratic leader attended the ceremony. According to Pahlavi, the public mood in Iran is filled with anger and frustration. He said pressure against the Iranian leadership would continue to grow and could eventually weaken the Islamic Republic.
Pakistan’s Leadership Attends Funeral
Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also attended the state funeral. Their participation came as several countries sent official representatives to the ceremony.
The funeral has now become a major political talking point. Supporters of Iran’s leadership viewed the large turnout as a sign of loyalty and respect. Critics, including Reza Pahlavi, rejected that claim and called the ceremony an attempt to control the political narrative.
