Eslami: No Pressure Can Silence a Movement Rooted in the Faith of Iran’s People
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization made the remarks at a funeral ceremony described by IRNA as being held for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family.
Iranian Vice President and Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami said at a funeral ceremony reported by IRNA that pressure or war could not silence a movement he described as rooted in the faith of Iran’s people. He called for continuation of the late leader’s path and outlined reported funeral plans in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, Najaf and Karbala.
**TEHRAN —** Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s vice president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization, attended a funeral ceremony that Iranian state news agency IRNA described as being held for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, identified in the report as the “martyred leader” of the Islamic Revolution, and several members of his family.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony on Monday, July 6, Eslami said the deceased leader had reached what he described as his longstanding aspiration of martyrdom. He called on Iranians to follow Khamenei’s guidance and said that efforts to enhance Iran’s standing and advance the Islamic Revolution would continue.
“By understanding and following his wise guidance,” Eslami said, according to IRNA, the Islamic community would continue the path led by the late leader and Iran would move forward stronger than before.
The remarks were delivered during a ceremony that IRNA said drew a very large crowd of mourners. Eslami described the public participation as an expression of renewed allegiance to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and to the deceased leader. He said that people had gathered “with tears and grief” while also chanting calls for retribution on behalf of the slain leader.
Eslami further argued that the public movement associated with the revolution could not be extinguished through pressure or war. In his formulation, it was a living movement rooted in faith and divine support, and one that would grow stronger and play a broader role over time.
“The world must know that this is not a movement that anyone can silence through the pressure of war,” Eslami said, as quoted by IRNA.
IRNA reported that the ceremony began with mourners accompanying the remains of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with those of several other people identified by the agency as members of the leader’s family or close associates. The report named Siyyedeh Boshra Hosseini Khamenei, Mesbah al-Hoda Bagheri, Zahra Haddad-Adel and Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani among those whose remains were being carried.
According to the agency, the vehicle carrying the remains was scheduled to travel from Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba Mosque, at the intersection of Azadi Street and Yadegar-e Emam Expressway, toward Azadi Square in Tehran.
IRNA also reported a series of planned ceremonies in other Iranian and Iraqi cities. A funeral ceremony was scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, in the holy city of Qom, followed by a ceremony and burial in Mashhad on Thursday, July 9, at the shrine of Imam Reza. The report said special farewell and funeral ceremonies were also planned for Wednesday, July 8, in Najaf and Karbala.
In his closing remarks, Eslami prayed that the deceased leader would be reunited with prophets and religious saints, and that his prayers would accompany the Iranian people.
The account and the statements cited in this article are based on the report published by IRNA. The supplied report does not independently document the size of the crowd, the circumstances surrounding the deaths, or the schedules beyond the agency’s account.