Healey says ‘no-one will mourn’ Khamenei, yet reality exposes lie

Today, UK defence minister John Healey spoke to Laura Kuenssberg, answering questions relating to the war of aggression on Iran which has seen its’ supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated. Widespread reports have further confirmed that a number of Iranian officials were also murdered.

Healey’s opening line was to suggest that ‘no one will mourn’ the death of Khamenei. It’s important to note, we condemn the oppressive acts of Khamenei on his own citizens. It is obvious, as in any state, there will be those who will cheer their leader’s downfall. However, it is arguably a deliberate lie from our defence minister to manufacture consent that is not supported by video evidence.

It’s hard to imagine Western society responding well when someone openly says they would feel no sympathy over the death of a public figure, no matter how controversial that person may be. For example, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk last year, critics quickly condemned those who suggested that Kirk’s own rhetoric had contributed to the hostility directed at him.

Once again, double standards are exposed in the West. And those double standards have a racist undertone.

Iran has begun 40 days of mourning after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media https://t.co/OD5V3wh2x7 pic.twitter.com/DmbFLOGCaA

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 1, 2026

Iranians mourning Khameneipic.twitter.com/kS7tPNE6ej

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) March 1, 2026

‘Revenge’ calls and deep grief on display after Khamenei assassination, not alleged civil uprising

Mainstream media across the West has spoken of the significant likelihood that Iranians would rise up and overthrow their government once US and Israeli attacks apparently ‘cleared the way’. Today, across UK news outlets, references are made to Iranians supposedly jumping for joy and showing gratitude for the widespread attacks on Iran. Those attacks have already resulted in a majority of deaths being amongst women and girls, with bombs hitting a primary school killing around 150 schoolgirls, as well as a sports hall which sheltered a women’s volleyball team which killed 20. 

Arguably confirming those civilian deaths were apparently deliberate, Trump celebrated the assassination posting on Truth Social. He stated:

He [Khamenei] was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.

This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.

The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective.

Contrary to Western ‘saviour’ attitudes, reports across the Middle East show widespread grief with women, men and young girls seen visibly weeping. Whilst we have seen happier celebrations too, looking at the sheer numbers showing deep, continuing faith in their murdered Ayatollah shouldn’t be diminished.

Footage you won’t be shown on Western media today:

Mass mourning in Tehran’s Enghelab’s Square to mourn the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.

The US and Israel said Iranians would take to the streets and overthrow their government if the leadership was killed…

Instead… https://t.co/9h6APXnEJ8 pic.twitter.com/zqeo0GmhAm

— Going Underground (@GUnderground_TV) March 1, 2026

The post in full reads:

Footage you won’t be shown on Western media today:

Mass mourning in Tehran’s Enghelab’s Square to mourn the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei.

The US and Israel said Iranians would take to the streets and overthrow their government if the leadership was killed…

Instead they have taken to the streets to rally around the flag and mobilise.

And significant mourning seen from his followers in India:

📍Kargil, India 🇮🇳 Mourning the Martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, The Supreme Leader of Iran. pic.twitter.com/RLximdNxJb

— Muhammed Arshad (@Martyrs_lover) March 1, 2026

Many have sought to diminish reports as ‘old videos’, with many coming out to refute that allegation:

Live shot from Shiraz on anti-Iran Qatar’s Al Jazeera – for those who keep insisting that the vast crowds in Iranian cities mourning @khamenei_ir and demanding revenge are “old videos” pic.twitter.com/Nr8HdbZTmk

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) March 1, 2026

Khamenei didn’t run and hide like Netanyahu

Possibly indicating why he was respected by his followers, this report from Al Jazeera suggests the Ayatollah continued his work refusing to run and hide. This draws a contrast to reports that Netanyahu ran like a coward to Germany when he started this war with Iran. A war which has seen retaliatory attacks from Iran on Israelis and Palestinians in the Occupied territories, whilst Gaza has been sealed off. 

BREAKING: Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies say Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at his office early Saturday while “performing his assigned duties.”

A 40-day period of public mourning has been declared. pic.twitter.com/wpVQOQpSIU

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 1, 2026

Russian President Putin has recognised the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Stating the murder was ‘cynical’, pictures have shown him honouring Khamenei by placing flowers in his memory in Moscow. We’re sure Putin is happy to see the West increasingly abandon the rule of law. Especially as the current rhetoric suggests aggressors decide if their acts are illegal: not its victims or allies.

Khamenei had clearly been an oppressive leader over those who he deemed ‘dissenters’. The immeasurable pain his abuse of power has inflicted is reflected in the X post below:

The Islamic Republic tortured an 87-year-old woman into a confession.

Her only “crime” was mourning her nephew, who was killed by the regime.

In her grief, she cursed Ali Khamenei and the forces responsible for taking his life.

It is standard practice for the Islamic Republic… pic.twitter.com/EvJz3PJq4g

— The Iran Watcher 🇮🇷 (@TheIranWatcher) February 9, 2026

Hypocrites: Do as the US and Israel say, not as they do

However, bombs falling on schools and sports halls hardly makes Israel and the US superior in their regard for human life and civil freedoms in Iran. These extraterritorial attacks have clearly triggered a deeper sense of loyalty and increased resistance to Western aggression amongst Iranians and followers across the region. This is hardly creating conditions for change, and far more likely to set conditions for all-out war in the Middle East.

Thankfully there are Western figures who are widely respected, who have called out the attacks for what they are. They have also recognised the rights inherent to Iran in light of widespread bombings across its territory. Your Party MP Zarah Sultana reminded us of Iran’s right under international law, provoking danger across multiple regions in light of this hostile aggression against its territory:

Under international law, Iran has the right to defend itself from unprovoked and illegal attacks.

This is US imperialist aggression, plain and simple. https://t.co/oObYj5mSJd

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) February 28, 2026

Law must be objective, not selective

Attempts to hail the assassination of Khamenei are across western media. They are working hard to convince the public that it was a ‘righteous act’ by the US and Israel. An aggressive act that came in answer to calls from Iranians miserable and oppressed under Iran’s IRGC regime. However, evidence does not support the suggestion that ‘few will mourn’ his assassination.

Also, moral superiority is increasingly short-lived when we look honestly at our own government’s behaviour, and that of our staunch allies. Instead, the arrogant ignorance of the west is likely to exacerbate the calls for vengeance amongst his followers.

This will likely be bad news for all civilians around the world as we see the rule of law diluted beyond all meaning.

Featured image via Aljazeera