NYT Journalists Enter Iran to Cover Khamenei Funeral, First Visit Since Late-February Attacks
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
NYT Journalists Enter Iran to Cover Khamenei Funeral, First Visit Since Late-February Attacks
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
Summary
Abdi Latif Dahir and photographer Emile Ducke became the first New York Times journalists to enter Iran since U.S. and Israeli attacks in late February, traveling with two video colleagues to cover Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral.
Four funeral ceremonies across several cities culminated in Tehran’s Azadi Square, where Dahir described immense crowds, intense heat and procession vehicles struggling to move through mourners.
The Times said reporting from Iran remains exceptionally difficult, with much of its coverage usually assembled from outside the country through contacts, verified visuals and social media material.
Dahir said the ceremonies captured the split legacy of Iran’s slain supreme leader — revered by millions, but also associated with repression, imprisonment, torture, executions and exile.
In a nation where truth is controlled, how can journalists reveal the real story of Iran?
After a devastating war and economic collapse, what does the future hold for ordinary Iranians?
With Iran's military consolidating power, can the fragile US-brokered peace deal actually last?
Iran in Crisis: Khamenei’s Death, Succession, and the 2026 US-Iran Confrontation
Overview
In early July 2026, Iran held massive funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led by his son Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei. The state allowed limited media access, revealing a divided Tehran—some mourners followed strict traditions, while others showed more liberal lifestyles. The funeral quickly became a stage for anti-Western anger, with hard-liners chanting against America and Israel and displaying banners threatening Donald Trump. These events set the tone for Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who vowed revenge, fueling further tensions and shaping the country’s political and social climate.