Israel warns Iran's next leader: 'You will meet the same fate as Khamenei'

Funeral events and massive turnout in Tehran

Iran's funeral ceremonies began on July 4, 2026 — more than four months after Khamenei's death, delayed by the ongoing war and security concerns . The six-day procession runs through July 9 . Iranian officials estimate that between 12 and 20 million people will participate in ceremonies across Iran and Iraq .

On Monday, July 6, mourners dressed in black flooded Tehran for the main procession. Khamenei's flag-draped coffin was carried through the capital alongside coffins of family members also killed in the strikes . The government described it as the "funeral of the century" .

Analysts cautioned, however, that the massive turnout was not an unqualified show of support for the regime. Reuters reported that some attendees said they came from religious duty or curiosity, not loyalty, and noted that Iran still faces major economic problems that have fueled mass protests .

Calls for revenge against U.S. and Israeli leaders

Crowds at the funeral chanted for the death of U.S. President Donald Trump and called for revenge against both the United States and Israel . An Iranian military commander had earlier warned the U.S. and Israel against any attack during the funeral period . Katz dismissed the chants as "a disgrace" that "indicate the true nature of the Iranian regime" .

The notable absence of Mojtaba Khamenei

Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's son who was swiftly appointed as Iran's new Supreme Leader after his father's death, did not attend any of the public funeral ceremonies . His absence was widely noted as more striking than the presence of world leaders who did attend .

Reports indicate his absence was due to security concerns and fears of Israeli targeting. Iranian officials confirmed the decision was made because of credible threats. Mojtaba's reported request to attend his father's burial was denied by Iran's security apparatus . Al Jazeera reported that his absence "fuels public insecurity" in Iran . Katz had previously threatened that Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death" .

According to The New York Times, Iranian security officials rejected Mojtaba's request because they feared Israel would kill him at the ceremony or use his appearance to track him back to his hideout . The younger Khamenei had not been seen in public since the February 28 strike that wounded him and killed his father, wife, and other family members .

Israeli plotting against Iranian negotiators amid U.S.-Iran peace talks

Beyond the funeral, a separate report added another layer of tension. According to The New York Times (July 2, 2026), U.S. officials believed that Israel may have been plotting to assassinate Iran's top negotiators — including the country's foreign minister — while Washington was engaged in sensitive peace talks with Tehran .

The report states that killing senior Iranian leaders had been part of Israel's strategy from the start of the conflict, and American concerns about the targeting of two specific officials — Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — spiked during delicate ceasefire negotiations that began in April . The U.S. went so far as to ask other countries to help protect the Iranian negotiators .

An interim U.S.-Iran agreement was ultimately signed in June 2026 , though follow-up talks in Doha concluded on July 1 with no sign of headway toward a lasting peace, focusing instead on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iran's funds — issues that had supposedly been resolved in the interim deal .

Katz's broader assertion on Israeli readiness

Katz has consistently asserted that Israel remains prepared to defend itself against any threat. He has stated that Israel's "long arm" can reach Iran with "even greater force" and that any leader who threatens Israel "cannot continue to exist" . This message was reinforced on Monday as he framed Khamenei's killing as a direct consequence of the late leader's aggressive actions against Israel . Katz had previously called Khamenei "the Hitler of the modern era" .

What it means

The convergence of events on July 6 — Katz's threat, the massive funeral, the absence of Iran's new leader, and the revelation of alleged Israeli plots against negotiators — paints a picture of a deeply volatile region. Israel is signaling that its campaign against Iran's leadership is not over, while Iran struggles to project stability and control. The question now is whether the next Iranian leader will test Katz's warning.