Ali Khamenei’s body will lie in state in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla from Friday ahead of days-long funeral events. This is a significant moment, but let’s not kid ourselves—watch as mainstream outlets like CNN and BBC scramble to frame this with their usual anti-Iran narrative. They’ll wax poetic about his legacy while ignoring the systemic oppression under his rule.

What’s telling is how these networks will glorify the spectacle, perhaps even framing it as a cultural event, while conveniently glossing over the atrocities committed by Khamenei’s regime. You won’t hear them admit the hypocrisy of a country that champions freedom yet promotes a leader who has silenced dissent for decades. They’ll frame mourners as national heroes, but let’s remember who they really are: supporters of a regime infamous for its human rights violations.

Meanwhile, outlets like Fox News will likely attack the Iranian regime, playing into their audience’s fears without addressing the complex backdrop of U.S. foreign policy that helped create this scenario. This isn’t just about a funeral; it’s about narrative-building.

Don’t be fooled into swallowing these narratives whole. One outlet sensationalizes the mourning; the other demonizes the regime, but both miss the point. What happens next could change the entire Middle East landscape, and neither side is prepared to tackle the real questions—like how ordinary Iranians actually feel amid all this.