Millions of mourners gathered in Tehran this week for the funeral procession of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s recent history. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly four decades, was killed on February 28 during U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that also claimed the lives of several of his family members. The funeral ceremonies, which began last Friday and are planned to continue over several days, included processions through Tehran and visits to significant Shia religious sites in Iraq before the bodies are to be buried in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.
The procession on Monday drew tens of millions, with authorities expecting attendance between 12 million and 15 million people over the week. The coffin of Khamenei, accompanied by those of his daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and granddaughter, was transported slowly through major city squares, including Imam Hossein, Enghelab, and Azadi squares, locations historically linked to both the 1979 revolution and later anti-government protests. Many mourners displayed traditional Shia rituals of grief, including chest beating and weeping, while others carried red religious flags symbolizing a call for revenge.
The ceremonies took on a strongly political tone. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “death to America” and “down with Israel,” and carried banners threatening U.S. President Donald Trump by name. At one point, protesters burned American and British flags and displayed images of Trump, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with crosshairs superimposed. Iranian state media characterized the gatherings as a demonstration of national unity and resolve in response to the February attacks.
The funeral proceedings took place amid ongoing diplomatic tensions. President Donald Trump delayed U.S.-Iran negotiations for a week to accommodate the mourning period but reiterated threats of military action, stating that the United States could “wipe out” Iran’s leadership with “one shot” while simultaneously expressing surprise at the emotional displays by mourners. Iran’s embassy in Armenia condemned Trump’s remarks as lacking understanding of Iranian culture, history, and honor.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz further escalated rhetoric, vowing to “eliminate” Iranian leaders who threaten Israel and identifying Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, as “marked for death.” The Iranian government responded with warnings of “powerful” retaliation against any threats targeting its people and leadership.
These developments occur alongside regional dynamics around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint through which a significant proportion of global oil supplies pass. Iran has maintained effective control over the strait and targeted U.S. military bases in the region during the conflict, contributing to volatility in global energy markets. In response, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 188,000 barrels per day in August, a move that briefly eased energy prices.
Iran’s leadership faces both internal and external challenges following Khamenei’s death. Domestically, critics have blamed the late supreme leader for economic stagnation, corruption, and suppression of political reform, with recent years witnessing large-scale protests met with severe crackdowns. Internationally, the war that ended with a fragile truce last month left unresolved disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.
As Iran mourns, calls for revenge coexist with cautious diplomatic efforts aimed at long-term de-escalation, underscoring the complex and volatile nature of the current geopolitical environment in the Middle East.