13 countries skipped or downgraded participation in Khamenei funeral due to US pressure: Report

The United States reportedly launched a diplomatic campaign to discourage countries from attending the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, according to Iranian media. The report claimed the effort led at least 13 countries to either withdraw from the event or send lower-level delegations.

According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, citing a senior source, Washington intensified diplomatic efforts in the days leading up to the funeral to reduce foreign participation.

The report alleged that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued confidential instructions to American embassies and diplomatic missions on June 26, directing diplomats to use "all available means" to discourage host governments from attending the ceremony.

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It further claimed that participation in the funeral would be viewed as an "unfriendly act" that could negatively affect bilateral ties with Washington.

Alleged pressure on foreign governments

Citing two unnamed Arab diplomats, the report alleged that US ambassadors in several African countries warned that attending the funeral could result in reductions to American development assistance.

It also claimed Rubio personally raised the issue with his counterparts in at least five Arab countries.

According to the report, at least 13 countries—including three from Eastern Europe, five from Africa, two Persian Gulf Arab states and two major East Asian nations—either cancelled their participation or downgraded the level of their representation following the alleged US pressure.

The report added that some countries cited diplomatic reasons for their absence, while others attempted to send lower-level delegations that were reportedly not accepted by Iranian authorities.

Funeral ceremonies underway

The funeral ceremonies began on Saturday at the Imam Khomeini Grand Musalla in Tehran and will conclude with Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.

Public funeral prayers for Khamenei and four members of his family were held in Tehran on Sunday as part of the multi-day farewell ceremony.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, an event that triggered a wider conflict in West Asia.

Regional tensions remain high

Last month, the US and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities and opening a 60-day window for technical talks, including discussions on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.

Following Khamenei's death, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as Iran's new Supreme Leader. According to reports, Mojtaba is expected to skip the six-day funeral ceremonies because of security concerns amid what Iranian media described as continuing Israeli assassination threats.

With inputs from ANI