Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has dismissed the large crowds attending Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral, arguing that the ceremony does not reflect the views of the Iranian people.

In a post on X on Saturday, Pahlavi urged foreign representatives attending the funeral not to mistake the event for a display of nationwide grief.

He claimed Iranians were mourning those killed during anti-government protests rather than Khamenei, accusing senior Iranian officials of responsibility for the deaths.

Pahlavi also described the funeral as a “propaganda spectacle,” alleging that the government spent significant public funds to stage the event. He further claimed that no democratic head of government attended the ceremony.

The exiled prince said public anger toward Iran’s leadership remains strong and argued that the funeral should not be interpreted as evidence of popular support for the ruling establishment.

His remarks came as Iran continued official mourning ceremonies for Khamenei, drawing large crowds and delegations from several countries. The funeral has generated sharply contrasting narratives, with Iranian authorities portraying it as a show of national unity, while critics have challenged that characterization.