Hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran on Sunday to attend funeral prayers for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike during the opening phase of the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran earlier this year. The presence of thousands of mourners signals growing confidence in safety amid chants calling for the death of US President Donald Trump.
Funeral Procession and Security Measures
Khamenei's body will be transported to cities across Iran as well as neighbouring Iraq, with authorities planning to drive his casket and others through the streets of Tehran on Monday. Streets, airspace, and daily life have been shut down for the mourning period, which will end Thursday with burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace. Officials offered no official attendance count for the events on Saturday and Sunday, although estimates suggest several thousand participants.
Mourners Call for Revenge Against US
During the funeral, mourners chanted slogans calling for the killing of President Donald Trump, reflecting ongoing tensions. Iranian officials are currently negotiating an end to the war, while Iran retains extraordinary leverage over the US through its grip on the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
Succession and Future of Iran
Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has been named the new Supreme Leader of Iran. The future of the country remains uncertain following the death of the 86-year-old dictator, who ruled Iran with an iron fist for several decades. The regime continues to face internal and external pressures as the war and negotiations unfold.
