Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran beginning July 4 for a multi-day funeral honoring Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a Feb. 28 airstrike at the onset of the ongoing Iran war. The ceremony, delayed due to the conflict, included public displays of grief and calls for retaliation against Israel and the United States.

Khamenei, 86, who led Iran since the Islamic Revolution, was buried alongside members of his family who also died in the same attack. His coffin, draped in a flag and topped with his black turban signifying his status as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, was displayed in the Grand Mosalla mosque complex. The funeral is expected to conclude Thursday with Khamenei’s interment at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.

Mourners, many participating in traditional Shiite rituals such as rhythmic chest-beating, gathered despite summer heat, aided by volunteers spraying water. Security was tight, with metal detectors, body searches, and armed police patrolling the area. The city operated under extensive closures affecting streets and airspace to accommodate the event.

The funeral has been described as a significant moment for Iran’s theocratic leadership, likely bolstering the position of Khamenei’s son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely viewed as his successor. Mojtaba reportedly sustained injuries in the strike and has not appeared publicly since the outbreak of hostilities.

Chants of “Revenge! Revenge!” and slogans targeting the United States and Israel were prevalent throughout the ceremonies. The timing of the funeral’s commencement coincided with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding on July 4, provoking demonstrators to shout “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” The animosity was reflected in parts of the crowd holding flags bearing the slogan “#KillTrump,” referencing the then-U.S. president who publicly remarked on granting Iran a “week off for a funeral” during a speech at Mount Rushmore.

Iran’s top negotiator, Kazem Gharibabadi, voiced strong opposition to a joint statement from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, which suggested their nations’ militaries might conduct patrols through the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway, vital for global oil shipments, has been a longstanding flashpoint. Iran has indicated intentions to assert control over passage through the strait by imposing fees, challenging its traditional status as an international corridor. Gharibabadi warned that any foreign military presence would be considered provocative and that the responsibility for resulting consequences would fall on the intervening parties.

Funeral events in Tehran are set to continue with planned prayers and a procession through the city streets to honor Khamenei and his family. Similar ceremonies have been held in other Iranian cities, underscoring the nationwide impact of the Supreme Leader’s death. Many attendees expressed deep personal sorrow, reflecting on the shock and gravity of losing their long-standing leader amid ongoing conflict.