TURKEY PERSPECTIVE

Ankara, July 4, 2026. Turkish media is analyzing the national funeral of Ali Khamenei through two lenses: the Iranian government's ability to demonstrate cohesion after a devastating war, and the uncertainties surrounding an unprecedented succession since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

The Daily Sabah recalls the facts. Khamenei, 86, was killed on February 28 during American-Israeli strikes, ending forty years of rule. Mojtaba, his son, has been designated as the third Supreme Leader, but has remained invisible since: injured during the same strikes, he has made no public appearances. BBC Türkçe notes that none of Khamenei's children have been seen at a public event since the twelve-day war in spring 2025.

The scope of the funeral arrangements is at the heart of Turkish coverage. The body is being laid out in a chapel of rest in Tehran as of July 4, before processions in Qom and Mashhad and a burial on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine. Authorities have mobilized free transportation and accommodations in schools and mosques for over a million visitors; some officials are expecting 12 to 20 million participants.

For the Iranian government, the ceremonies are a political demonstration. Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi, the Friday imam in Qom, told state media that "the people's participation in the martyred leader's procession will be another referendum for the Islamic Republic." Turkish sources note that authorities are mobilizing all state institutions - transportation, accommodation, security - to ensure maximum attendance.

The Daily Sabah reports the reappearance of General Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, who has been absent from public space since February 8. Seen at a private ceremony beside the coffin, he is described as the architect of Iran's hardline stance and one of the few people in direct contact with Mojtaba Khamenei.

On the diplomatic front, indirect US-Iranian talks in Doha are making "positive progress" according to Pakistan, which is mediating with Qatar. The parties will resume discussions after the funeral. Trump described the exchanges as "very good" and stated that "Iran's denuclearization is progressing well," although the nuclear issue has not been formally addressed. The interim agreement has reopened the Strait of Hormuz for sixty days; Tehran warns that any deviation from agreed-upon routes will result in a "forced response."