Kalibaf’s patience broke as soon as Khamenei’s mortal remains arrived, the speaker wept bitterly after seeing his 40-year old friend.

As soon as the mortal remains of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were brought to the public for the last darshan, the entire atmosphere became sad. This emotional scene has shocked not only Iran but the entire world. Speaker of Iran’s parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who has been one of Khamenei’s most trusted and close aides for decades, could not hold back tears. Qalibaf’s helplessness and his bitter cry at the sight of the coffin has become a symbol of the end of a 40-year long unbroken togetherness. Four Decades of Unbreakable Bond and Final Farewell The relationship between Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Ayatollah Khamenei has been not only political but also deeply personal and ideological. Qalibaf has worked under Khamenei’s guidance from his youth to the top echelons of politics. When the coffin was placed on the stage, Qalibaf broke down completely. His tears reflected not only the pain of losing a leader, but also memories of the period in which he, along with Khamenei, shaped Iran’s Islamic revolution and military strategies. This departure is also a shock for all those old comrades who have worked on Khamenei’s vision for decades. Kalibaf’s mourning and the changing picture of Iran Kalibaf’s public cry like this is a sign of a big emotional change in Iranian politics. While on one hand the fundamentalist factions of Iran are talking about setting the country in the fire of ‘revenge’, on the other hand the grief of leaders like Qalibaf shows that after the departure of Khamenei, a deep void has been created in the corridors of power of Iran. Analysts believe that this reaction of Qalibaf reflects the deep respect and connection of the general public and military leadership towards Khamenei within Iran. This scene also tells the world that Khamenei was not only a supreme leader but also a guardian to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with him for a long time. The crowd of millions gathered on the streets of Tehran at the funeral, and Kalibaf’s lament over it, presents a big picture of Iran’s current troubled times. Iran’s top military officers and political luminaries, gathered around Khamenei’s coffin, are now looking towards a future that is full of uncertainties. This helplessness of Qalibaf is a reflection of the feelings of millions of people who are witnessing the end of an era. Now all eyes are on whether Khamenei’s successor will be able to take Iran out of these challenging circumstances by taking loyal allies like Qalibaf into confidence, or will the country’s internal strife deepen further.