Terrorist Leader Praised as HERO on American Soil

Three armed silhouettes near a smoky city skyline.

A Virginia mosque just miles from our nation’s capital openly mourned Iran’s Supreme Leader and celebrated his “martyrdom” after American forces eliminated him, raising urgent questions about foreign influence operations on U.S. soil.

Story Snapshot

Manassas Mosque hosted Ramadan iftar honoring Ayatollah Khamenei following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed him in Tehran
Mosque extended “glad tidings” on Khamenei’s “martyrdom” via Instagram, framing America’s enemy as a religious hero
Facility has documented ties to Iranian regime, including $193,000 from Iran-linked foundation and past endorsements of Hamas and Hezbollah
Congressional Republicans previously flagged the mosque for displaying IRGC martyr photos and Iranian revolutionary imagery

Virginia Mosque Celebrates Enemy Leader’s Death as Martyrdom

Manassas Mosque in Northern Virginia held a Ramadan iftar on March 1, 2026, specifically to honor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death in weekend U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran. The Shia Islamic center’s Instagram post extended condolences while offering “glad tidings on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” inviting followers for prayers and mourning programming. This represents an extraordinary instance of a U.S. religious facility openly celebrating a foreign adversary killed by American military action, using language that glorifies his death as religious sacrifice rather than condemning the regime’s decades of terrorism and oppression.

Documented Financial Ties to Iranian Regime Networks

The mosque received $193,000 from the Alavi Foundation between 2004 and 2005, an Iranian-run organization whose assets the U.S. Justice Department sought to seize in 2009 for allegedly funding Iran’s nuclear program through Bank Melli, a terrorism-designated entity. U.S. Customs seized 750 pounds of Iranian tiles donated to the mosque in 2021 for sanctions violations, though they were later released after intervention by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The full extent of current Iranian funding remains unclear due to nonprofit exemptions that shield houses of worship from standard financial disclosure requirements, creating a dangerous loophole that foreign adversaries can exploit.

History of Anti-American and Pro-Terrorism Statements

Imam Abolfazl Bahram Nahidian claimed at a 2010 Quds Day rally that Israel orchestrated the September 11 attacks to foster Islamophobia against Muslims. The mosque posted tributes to Qasem Soleimani in 2020 commemorating his “martyrdom” anniversary following his elimination by U.S. drone strike. Most alarmingly, in October 2023 immediately following Hamas’s brutal attacks on Israeli civilians, the mosque declared “We stand firmly with the Palestinian Resistance (Hamas),” explicitly endorsing a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. These statements reveal a pattern of allegiance to America’s enemies that goes far beyond religious expression or political disagreement.

House Republicans sent letters to Attorney General Garland and Director of National Intelligence Haines in 2023 specifically flagging Manassas Mosque as one of four U.S. Islamic groups with concerning Iran connections. The facility displayed IRGC martyr photographs, Iranian flags, and a cutout of Ayatollah Khomeini while celebrating Iran’s 1979 Revolution that overthrew a U.S. ally and established the current theocratic dictatorship. The mosque has co-sponsored anti-American protests with socialist organizations, operating just 30 miles from Washington, D.C., in a strategically concerning location for foreign influence operations targeting our government institutions and personnel.

Stark Contrast With Iranian Exile Community Celebrations

While the Manassas Mosque mourned Khamenei, Iranian exiles across America celebrated his elimination as liberation from tyranny. Brahm Arian at Silver Spring’s Iranian Christian Church called the strike “answered prayers,” while restaurant owner Mike Oveysi dubbed it the “happiest day,” citing decades of regime oppression including religious persecution and economic destruction. This sharp division exposes the reality that the mosque’s position represents regime propaganda rather than authentic community sentiment. Iranian-Americans who fled the Islamic Republic’s brutality recognize Khamenei’s death as justice, not martyrdom, and their perspective deserves recognition over those celebrating America’s adversaries on U.S. soil.

National Security Implications Demand Congressional Action

The mosque’s brazen celebration of an enemy leader killed by American forces raises critical questions about foreign influence operations exploiting religious freedom protections. A second unidentified U.S. mosque also held Khamenei memorial services, suggesting a broader network of Iranian regime sympathizers operating within America. The Trump administration must investigate whether these facilities receive ongoing Iranian funding, coordinate with regime intelligence services, or recruit operatives on American soil. Congress should close the nonprofit disclosure loophole that allows houses of worship to hide foreign funding sources, ensuring transparency without infringing on legitimate religious practice while protecting national security from those who exploit our freedoms to advance hostile foreign interests.