NEW YORK (VINnews) — Prior to the funeral ceremonies for Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, which are expected to begin this coming Saturday and continue over several days, senior Iranian regime officials have issued forceful statements and threats directed at Israel and the United States, while also calling on the public to attend the ceremonies and demonstrate loyalty to Tehran’s new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei.

The commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, Abdolrahim Abdollahi, released a special statement marking the funeral ceremonies, describing Khamenei as the leader who brought Iran to new heights of “deterrence” and strengthened its capabilities in missiles, drones, and national security. According to Abdollahi, Khamenei’s death is “a painful loss,” but his blood “will further strengthen the tree of Iran’s honor and independence.”

In his statement, Abdollahi warned “Iran’s enemies”, primarily the United States, Israel, and their allies, against “any miscalculation,” urging them not to attack Iran during the days of mourning and the funeral ceremonies. He called on the United States and Israel to take into account the possibility of “harsh and regrettable responses” from Iran’s armed forces to any threat or attack. He further declared that Iran’s armed forces remain committed to continuing the path laid out by Khamenei and to defending Iran’s independence, security, and territorial integrity, while pledging allegiance to the country’s new leader, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also called on the Iranian public to participate in large numbers in the funeral ceremonies. According to him, the funeral is not merely a farewell ceremony but a “renewal of the covenant” between the Iranian people, the path of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the “martyrs.” Ghalibaf urged the public to attend en masse, claiming that widespread participation would make the funeral “one of the largest farewell ceremonies in human history.”

Ghalibaf also included a militant message in his remarks, saying that “we must rise and let the world hear the Iranian people’s cry for revenge,” in order to demonstrate that Iran “will not remain silent in the face of injustice and will not abandon the blood of its Imam.” At the same time, he called on the public to help ensure the success of the ceremonies by maintaining order, assisting participants, and cooperating with organizers.

The statements come as Iran prepares extensively for Khamenei’s funeral procession, which is scheduled to begin this coming Saturday. Through the ceremonies, Tehran is seeking to project domestic unity, mobilize large crowds for the mourning processions, and demonstrate governmental continuity under the country’s new leadership.

The body of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, will be laid to rest more than four months after he was assassinated together with forty senior figures from Iran’s security establishment.

According to the report, Khamenei was killed during Operation Bereshit, in which more than 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft participated in close coordination with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). While Israeli aircraft targeted Iran’s senior military leadership and neutralized air defense systems, American bombers and fighter aircraft simultaneously struck high-value targets across Iran.