Thousands of supporters gathered at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex to pay homage to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s recently assassinated Supreme Leader. The week-long funeral commenced with loud chants of “Death to America” and “God’s curse be on Israel,” underscoring the deep-seated animosity towards both nations that defined Khamenei’s nearly four-decade rule.
During the public ceremony, Khamenei’s black turban was placed atop his flag-draped coffin, symbolizing his religious and political stature. The crowd also echoed calls for the assassination of then-U.S. President Donald Trump, while waving red flags that signify jihad and vengeance in Shia Islam. This incendiary atmosphere marked the funeral as a focal point for Iranian defiance following the U.S.-Israeli airstrike that killed Khamenei early in the ongoing conflict.
The choice of venue carried symbolic weight. The Grand Mosalla, a key site for state ceremonies, served as the setting for weekly Friday prayers that Khamenei had historically closed with the same anti-American and anti-Israeli chants now repeated by his mourners. The funeral thus mirrored the rhetoric that shaped his leadership and the country’s confrontational foreign policy.
Notably absent from the ceremony was Mojtaba Khamenei, the eldest son and successor of the late leader. His absence disappointed many supporters anticipating his debut as the new Supreme Leader. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Mojtaba sustained serious injuries, possibly disfigurement, during the Israeli strike, and he has remained out of public view since the attack.
The funeral also showcased a raw display of hostility towards the United States, with signs urging to “Kill Trump” visible among the mourners. Top commanders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regime officials were present, joining the public in expressing outrage and calls for retribution. This defiant response signals continued tensions in the region amid efforts by Iran’s leadership to consolidate power and rally support after a dramatic leadership change.