Trump's Peace Offer Clashes With Iran's Street Calls for Revenge

As 15–20 million Iranians gathered to mourn Ayatollah Khamenei—killed by US strikes in February—President Trump declared Iran's government "dying to settle" a peace deal. Mourners chanted slogans against the US and invoked *khunkhahi*, the Persian concept of blood vengeance. The gap between Tehran's diplomatic interests and its mobilized public demanding retribution poses Iran's incoming Supreme Leader an immediate strategic dilemma: manage both a war-weary electorate and a populace driven by martyrdom.