I visited the Iran Culture House in New Delhi just days after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on 28 February 2026. The conflict between Iran, US and Israel intensified in late February 2026 and continues to escalate, reshaping geopolitics across the Middle East as of publishing this report. During my ground report, I witnessed large numbers of people, mostly Indians gathering to mourn Khamenei. Many of them described him not just as a political leader, but as a spiritual guide for Shia Muslims around the world, including in India. Mourners shared why Khamenei mattered to them, how his religious influence reached Shia communities in India, and what they thought about the US-Israel escalation with Iran.