Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Buried Next to Ayatollah Khomeini

The funeral and burial ceremony of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, which began early in the morning in Tehran, concluded on Tuesday afternoon, January 21. After the funeral prayer held at the University of Tehran, Rafsanjani's body was carried to Behesht Zahra cemetery and ultimately buried at the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini. Besides Rafsanjani's family, prominent figures such as Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Ali Larijani, and Mohammad Reza Aref were among those who buried Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Videos released show some participants chanting slogans in support of Mir Hossein Mousavi, a figure opposed to the 2009 elections who is under house arrest. A group of attendees also chanted in support of Mohammad Khatami, who reportedly was not allowed to attend the ceremony. Some Iranian news agencies have also referred to slogans centered around 'Rohani and Khatami.' Images of Mohammad Reza Khatami, brother of Mohammad Khatami, among the attendees have been published. According to ILNA news agency, amidst the slogans, the sounds of ambulances and eulogies could be heard. Reports indicate that the crowd in front of the University of Tehran 'peaked,' causing 'several scaffolds in front of the university to collapse due to the crowd's density,' and 'all entrances to the university were closed.' There were also reports of disruptions in mobile phone services. According to reports, Mehdi and Yasser Hashemi, the children of the late head of the Expediency Discernment Council, were present among some attendees during the ceremony. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the Expediency Discernment Council, passed away on Sunday due to 'cardiac arrest' at Shahid Tajrish Hospital in Tehran. The burial ceremony for Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani began on Tuesday at 8:30 AM at the University of Tehran. At 10 AM, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, prayed over Rafsanjani's body. After the prayer, his body was carried from the University of Tehran towards College Bridge and then along Hafez Street to the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini. According to ISNA, Mohsen Rezaei, Mohammad Reza Tabesh, Hossein Dehghan, Abdollah Jassbi, Ahmad Tavakoli, Mohammad Reza Nemat-Zadeh, Abbas Akhoundi, Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, Mohammad Doaie, Tahmasb Mazaheri, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, and Majid Ansari were among the officials and political figures present at today's ceremony. Domestic reactions to the death of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president and head of the Expediency Discernment Council, continue. Meanwhile, Josh Earnest, a spokesperson for the White House, referred to Rafsanjani as a prominent and important figure in Iran's history, stating that the U.S. government expresses its condolences to the people of Iran. On the other hand, the Saudi Arabian government, which has seen its relations with Iran deteriorate in recent years, did not immediately respond to Rafsanjani's death. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey's foreign minister, also expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating that Rafsanjani's death deeply saddened him. Meanwhile, Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, in his condolence message stated that Rafsanjani's death represents a significant loss for the Islamic world, emphasizing that 'we will not forget the positions of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, who always stood with us in all arenas and stages.' Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman, also conveyed his condolences to Iran via Telegram. The Omani government has played a mediating role between Iran and the West for years. According to the Associated Press, Maryam Rajavi, the head of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, expressed hope for the collapse of the Islamic Republic after Rafsanjani's death, stating that 'one of the two main pillars key to maintaining the balance of the fascist religious regime in Iran has crumbled with Rafsanjani's death, and the Iranian regime and its entirety are close to collapse.' In Syria, however, President Bashar al-Assad stated in his condolence message that Rafsanjani was known for his courage, candid positions, and tireless efforts for the dignity and freedom of Iranians in the world. Iran is one of the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad's government in the Syrian civil war. According to Reuters, leaders from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have also expressed their condolences regarding Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's death.