Massive Mourning in Tehran: Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral Draws Thousands
Tehran witnessed a massive outpouring of grief on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets for the funeral procession of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 85-year-old cleric was killed in an Israeli air strike on 28 February, an attack that also wounded his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
State television footage showed enormous crowds gathered along a 10-kilometre route from the Grand Mosalla mosque, where Khamenei's body had lain in state for two days, through the capital's iconic Enghelab Square. His flag-draped coffin was transported on a lorry, surrounded by security personnel.
Three of Khamenei's sons prayed beside his coffin at the mosque on Sunday. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been named as the new supreme leader, did not appear. He has not been seen in public since the air strike, and reports indicate he was seriously wounded in the same attack that killed his father and his wife.
The funeral procession marks a somber chapter in Iran's recent history, as the country grapples with the aftermath of the conflict with the United States and Israel. The war, which began with the air strike, has led to significant political and social upheaval within Iran.
Ayatollah Khamenei had led Iran since 1989, overseeing a period of strained relations with the West and heightened regional influence. His death has left a power vacuum, with Mojtaba Khamenei's succession uncertain due to his injuries.
The international community is watching closely as Iran navigates this transition. The funeral served as a display of both mourning and political solidarity, with many Iranians expressing loyalty to the late leader's legacy.
