The United States allegedly mounted a diplomatic effort to discourage foreign governments from attending the funeral of Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, resulting in 13 countries either withdrawing or reducing their level of participation in the ceremony held in Tehran, according to Iranian media.
Quoting an Iranian source, Tehran-based semi-official Tasnim News Agency said Washington initiated the campaign about a week before the funeral procession. According to the report, the effort was coordinated at the highest diplomatic levels and involved Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as US ambassadors stationed around the world, with the objective of persuading countries not to send representatives to the event.
Tasnim, which is affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), claimed the US campaign involved “explicit threats” to reduce development assistance and “harm” bilateral relations with Washington if countries decided to attend Khamenei's funeral at Imam Khomeini Grand Musalla in central Tehran.
According to the report, the United States also instructed governments through its embassies and diplomatic missions that participation in Ali Khamenei's funeral would be regarded as an “unfriendly act” and could carry consequences for bilateral ties with Washington.
The report further cited two Arab diplomats as saying that Secretary Rubio personally reached out to at least five Arab countries, urging them to avoid attending the funeral procession in Tehran and warning that participation could negatively affect their bilateral relations with the United States.
Tasnim also alleged that Washington warned several African countries that sending representatives to Ali Khamenei's funeral in Tehran could result in reductions to US development assistance.
The report stated that at least 13 countries ultimately either cancelled or downgraded their representation at the funeral in Tehran. Those included three Eastern European countries, five African nations, two Persian Gulf Arab states and two major East Asian countries.
Meanwhile, according to AP, hundreds of thousands of mourners chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while demanding revenge for the February 28 attack that killed the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Advertisement
Also Read | Kill Trump' Calls At Ali Khamenei's Funeral As Top Leaders Emerge From Hiding
