Iran Shuts Down Tehran Cafe Over Cups Allegedly Celebrating Khamenei's Death

• Iranian authorities closed a popular Tehran cafe chain, Lamiz, due to cup designs deemed to reference the killing of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
• Persian-language media outside Iran reported the controversial design featured an empty chair, interpreted as a comment on Khamenei’s death and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei's absence.
• Tasnim and Mehr news agencies confirmed the closure of Lamiz branches in Tehran by judicial order, citing "suspicious designs against the martyred imam."
• Lamiz cafe denied the allegations, stating the cups were designed for Iranian New Year, Nowruz, over several months, with production completed before recent events.
• The cafe, with over 20 branches in Tehran, has faced scrutiny along with other cafes for not enforcing dress codes or during protests.