{"id":2172,"date":"2026-07-03T11:37:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2172"},"modified":"2026-07-03T11:37:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:37:50","slug":"powerful-iranian-general-seen-in-public-amid-preparation-for-supreme-leaders-vast-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2172","title":{"rendered":"Powerful Iranian general seen in public amid preparation for supreme leader\u2019s vast funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEHRAN, Iran \u2014 A powerful Iranian general not seen in public for months has been photographed at a service for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the country prepared for a sweeping dayslong funeral. <\/p>

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Photos published online by Iranian state media Thursday nightshowed Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who leads the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) , after reportedly attending a meeting about Khamenei\u2019s funeral. <\/p>

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Vahidi was then seen sitting alongside Khamenei\u2019s casket at what The Associated Press reported was a smaller service held Thursday night near the late supreme leader\u2019s former home in downtown Tehran.<\/p>

Iranian officials gathered in Tehran on Friday to pay their early respects to Khamenei, whose funeral is expected to be a show of force as the regime tries to demonstrate its continued hold over the nation after surviving the U.S. and Israel\u2019s devastating assault.<\/p>

In images published by The Associated Press and Getty Images a large crowd surrounded the coffin carrying Khamenei\u2019s remains on Friday morning, some weeping as they paid tribute to a leader who was worshipped by some and reviled by others.<\/p>

Outside the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque members of the IRGC could be seen kneeling. Under Khamenei, the IRGC became the top military, political and economic force in the country.<\/p>

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Millions of Iranians are expected to pay their respects as Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly four decades. Those gathering for the lying in state and funeral will contrast with huge nationwide protests in January that were met by a deadly crackdown by security forces that left thousands dead and sent shockwaves around the world. <\/p>

Security was tight as officials prepared for the massive funeral procession for the late leader, with Tehran\u2019s mayor saying it could be the biggest single event in this city\u2019s modern history, and organizers expecting between 15 and 20 million people.<\/p>

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An NBC News crew in Tehran observed little traffic on the streets, and while shops were open, they were expected to be closed throughout the official period of mourning.<\/p>

People were being told that if they cannot reach the city to leave their cars on the highway on the outskirts, and take buses into central Tehran. Public transportation also made free for the funeral events.<\/p>

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