Hundreds of Thousands Attend Funeral of Former Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei in Tehran

Hundreds of thousands of people continue to gather in Tehran to participate in the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed several months ago in an Israeli strike that marked the start of Operation 'Lion's Roar.' The funeral ceremony is held at the Grand Mosalla Mosque named after Khomeini. High-ranking Iranian officials attending include President Ebrahim Raisi, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ahmad Vahidi, is also present.

Numerous foreign delegations and officials have arrived for the official event, including the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Pakistani army chief, and representatives from Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Iraq, China, Russia, Thailand, and Georgia. Additionally, members of the Taliban, Palestinian organizations, and Hezbollah are attending. It remains unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei who reportedly survived the Israeli attack and is believed to be the new Supreme Leader, will appear publicly at the event.

Participants expressed deep mourning and commitment to Iran’s cause. Hananeh Mousavi, 27, said, "I am here to say goodbye to my beloved leader Khamenei. I never expected to see such a day. I wish I had died before this tragedy." Ali Kazemi, who traveled 530 kilometers from Tabriz, stated, "We joined the funeral to show our commitment to defend our country and religion."

The IRGC issued a warning at the start of the funeral procession, cautioning Israel, the United States, and other parties against any attempts to harm Iran during the ceremonies. Thousands of security personnel, many from the IRGC, are deployed, and Tehran’s airspace has been closed until further notice.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on talks with Iran, saying the U.S. is giving Iran "a week off for the funeral because we are nice," and added that Iran is eager to reach an agreement. On the eve of the funeral, Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf warned that if Israel and the U.S. do not fulfill their commitments, Iran will resume appropriate measures.

Ali Khamenei was killed in a strike on the presidential compound in Tehran on February 28, which initiated Operation Lion's Roar. The attack also killed IRGC Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and about 40 other regime leaders. Khamenei had led Iran as Supreme Leader since the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, serving as the central authority and decision-maker for nearly 40 years.