At least 13 countries refrained from attending the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reportedly due to intense pressure from the United States. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the countries that stayed away include several from Eastern Europe, Africa, the Persian Gulf, and East Asia. Some governments later attempted to explain their absence through diplomatic channels, but Tehran rejected those explanations.

The report cited an unnamed senior source claiming that US officials conducted a five-day “comprehensive campaign” to discourage foreign delegations from traveling to Tehran for Khamenei’s memorial. On June 26, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio allegedly issued a secret directive instructing all American embassies to warn host governments that attending the funeral would be considered an “unfriendly act” and could harm bilateral relations. Two Arab diplomats told Tasnim that Rubio personally discussed the issue with at least five Arab foreign ministers, while US ambassadors in Africa reportedly warned that participation could jeopardize American development aid.

The funeral took place four months after the start of Iran’s war with the United States and Israel, drawing millions of mourners across the country.