Ayatollah Alireza Arafi calls for revenge at Imam Khamenei funeral

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi issued a statement describing the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a historic and unprecedented gathering. He noted that millions of people attended the ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad, many carrying red flags that in Iranian religious culture symbolize a call for revenge.

The statement reported chants for retaliation against officials of the United States and Israel, including explicit calls for the death of former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Arafi also urged that negotiations should not be continued, framing the funeral as a demonstration of popular resolve and a strategic message to perceived adversaries.

The remarks reflect the Iranian leadership's use of religious mourning events to convey political messages and to rally public sentiment around themes of resistance and vengeance.