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Manassas Today
By the People, for the People
Virginia Mosque Honors Slain Iranian Ayatollah
Manassas Mosque holds memorial service for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him a 'martyr'
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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A Shia mosque in Manassas, Virginia hosted a remembrance service and Ramadan iftar to honor the legacy of Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli strike. The mosque, known to have close ties to the Iranian regime, extended 'condolences and glad tidings on the martyrdom' of Khamenei and invited followers to consider their 'responsibilities' in the wake of his death.
Why it matters
The Manassas Mosque has faced scrutiny in the past for its alleged connections to the Iranian regime, including receiving funds from an Iranian-linked organization and expressing support for terrorist groups. This memorial service for Khamenei, a key figure in Iran's authoritarian government, raises concerns about the mosque's ideology and loyalties.
The details
The Manassas Mosque, located about 30 miles outside Washington, D.C., hosted the remembrance service and Ramadan iftar on Sunday. The mosque's founder and imam, Abolfazl Bahram Nahidian, has been identified as Ayatollah Khomenei's 'point man' in D.C. since the 1970s and allegedly received $5 million from Iran in the 1980s to support Iranian regime propaganda efforts in the U.S. In 2023, House Republicans identified the Manassas Mosque as one of several U.S.-based Islamic institutions suspected of connections to Iran's regime.
- The remembrance service and Ramadan iftar were held on Sunday, March 2, 2026.
- In 2023, House Republicans identified the Manassas Mosque as one of several U.S.-based Islamic institutions suspected of connections to Iran's regime.
The players
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The former supreme leader of Iran who was killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli strike.
Abolfazl Bahram Nahidian
The founder and imam of the Manassas Mosque, who has been identified as Ayatollah Khomenei's 'point man' in D.C. since the 1970s and allegedly received $5 million from Iran in the 1980s to support Iranian regime propaganda efforts in the U.S.
Manassas Mosque
A Shia mosque in Manassas, Virginia that hosted a remembrance service and Ramadan iftar to honor the legacy of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)
The takeaway
This memorial service for Ayatollah Khamenei, a key figure in Iran's authoritarian government, raises serious concerns about the Manassas Mosque's ideology and loyalties, given its past connections to Iranian regime propaganda efforts and support for terrorist groups.
