TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran commenced a funeral procession on Monday through its capital, Tehran, to mourn the passing of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The procession featured Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin, along with the coffins of his family members who lost their lives during an airstrike on February 28 at the onset of the ongoing war initiated by Israel and the United States. These coffins were placed on a truck, which was adorned with decorations resembling the ornamental grating surrounding the shrine of an imam.
The vehicle slowly moved through throngs of black-clad mourners in Tehran, many of whom reached out to touch the decorative grating on the truck. Some attendees tossed scarves and other items intended for attendants to brush against the coffins, a customary ritual in Iran symbolizing blessings. To alleviate the heat of the summer, attendants sprayed misted water over the crowd.
The procession of coffins is planned to traverse the streets of Tehran over a span of 12 hours before reaching Mehrabad International Airport. Revolutionary Guard General Hasan Hasanzadeh is overseeing the event, which aims to display significant public support for the Iranian government during the ongoing mourning period. Tens of thousands of people have already congregated at various squares in Tehran, waving flags and banners in honor of Khamenei.
To facilitate the mourning activities, authorities have enacted street closures and suspended daily life throughout the city. This mourning period began on Saturday and will conclude on Thursday when the 86-year-old Khamenei is to be interred at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
Meanwhile, the United States is continuing negotiations with Iran regarding the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the rollback of its contentious nuclear program, and achieving a permanent cessation of the war. However, discussions seem to have been temporarily halted until after Khamenei's burial.
As the funeral proceedings continued, there were escalating threats from some mourners indicating a desire for vengeance regarding Khamenei’s death. Demonstrators carried signs that called for the assassinations of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among the protest displays was an effigy of Trump being hanged, further escalating tensions during the procession.
U.S. federal authorities have been monitoring Iranian threats aimed at Trump and other officials for several years, particularly in connection with Trump’s 2020 order for the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, who led Iran's elite Quds Force. Although Iran has consistently denied any plots against Trump, hard-line propaganda has long implied that he was in the crosshairs of Tehran.
In light of these events, Trump has also issued strong statements, declaring intentions to "destroy Iran’s civilization" during the ongoing conflict. The sentiments of mourners reflect this march toward vengeance, as expressed by Fatima Hassan, one participant who remarked, "Today that we are here for the funeral for our leader, it’s a very tough day. We are not here to say goodbye to him; we are here for revenge. And we will take revenge."
