Tehran (Iran), July 3 (LaPresse/AP) — The head of the Revolutionary Guards, the powerful General Ahmad Vahidi, has appeared in public for the first time in months, as Tehran prepares for the funeral of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which will last several days. Photos published online by Iranian state media show the general attending a meeting regarding Khamenei’s funeral, and then sitting next to his casket during a more intimate ceremony held in Khamenei’s honor on Thursday evening near the Supreme Leader’s former residence in central Tehran. According to experts, Vahidi has become a prominent figure in shaping Iran’s hardline stance in negotiations for a possible definitive end to the war. He is believed to be part of a small inner circle in direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in seclusion after being wounded in the Israeli attacks on February 28 that killed his father, whose funeral is now being held. Vahidi had not appeared in public since February 8, weeks before the start of the war in Iran. During the conflict, Israel has killed senior Iranian military and government officials and has also threatened the life of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iran: Pasdaran commander appears at ceremony for Khamenei, Ffrst time since the start of the war
Tehran (Iran), July 3 (LaPresse/AP) — The head of the Revolutionary Guards, the powerful General Ahmad Vahidi, has appeared in public for the first time in months, as Tehran prepares for the funeral of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which will last several days. Photos published online by Iranian state media show the general attending a meeting regarding Khamenei’s funeral, and then sitting next to his casket during a more intimate ceremony held in Khamenei’s honor on Thursday evening near the Supreme Leader’s former residence in central Tehran. According to experts, Vahidi has become a prominent figure in shaping Iran’s hardline stance in negotiations for a possible definitive end to the war. He is believed to be part of a small inner circle in direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in seclusion after being wounded in the Israeli attacks on February 28 that killed his father, whose funeral is now being held. Vahidi had not appeared in public since February 8, weeks before the start of the war in Iran. During the conflict, Israel has killed senior Iranian military and government officials and has also threatened the life of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
