Funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran
Thousands of people thronged the streets of the Iranian capital on Monday for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The procession combined displays of mourning with slogans against the United States and Israel.
The coffin, covered with the Iranian flag, was carried next to the coffins of relatives who died in the bombing of February 28, an attack attributed to Israel and the United States that triggered the most recent war. Images from state television showed a crowd that stretched for kilometers, even larger than that recorded in 2020 for the funeral of General Qassem Soleimani.
During the tour, mourners dressed in black attempted to touch the coffin or pass handkerchiefs over it as a symbol of blessing. Others carried signs with messages against US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Slogans were heard condemning both leaders.
The authorities deployed an extensive security operation. They closed streets and suspended public activities during official mourning. Khamenei’s burial will take place in the holy city of Mashhad.
Expressions of retaliation dominated the day. Several attendees affirmed that the loss of the supreme leader will not go unanswered and reiterated their rejection of the United States and Israel. Washington remains vigilant about possible Iranian reactions against Trump and other former officials, stemming from the 2020 order that eliminated Soleimani. However, Tehran has officially denied being involved in plans to attack the US president.




