Iran Holds Massive Funeral for Khamenei Amid Calls to Kill Trump and Netanyahu

Iran is conducting a large-scale funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of the "Roaring Lion" operation. High-ranking officials including President Ebrahim Raisi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani attended the ceremony in Tehran. Khamenei's sons Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam were present and visibly emotional, but the newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment.

During the funeral, poet Mohammad Rasouli called for the death of former U.S. President Donald Trump, provoking cheers from the crowd. Slogans such as "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" were chanted, alongside banners calling for the killing of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The event drew hundreds of thousands, with authorities expecting 15 to 20 million participants over several days of mourning declared as public holidays.

Despite U.S. promises to halt repression of protesters, Iranian authorities have intensified crackdowns since the war began on February 28, arresting around 6,000 people and increasing death sentences, accusing some dissidents of collaborating with the U.S. and Israel. Analysts suggest the regime is using Khamenei's funeral to project an image of widespread public support amid economic hardship and political repression.

The funeral ceremonies began Friday at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosque and will continue with a massive procession to Azadi Square, followed by transfers of the coffin to the holy Shiite cities of Qom and then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. Khamenei is to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday. Several foreign dignitaries, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese representatives, attended, but at least 13 countries declined participation reportedly due to U.S. diplomatic pressure.

Iranian media reported that the U.S. Secretary of State issued confidential instructions warning that attending the funeral would be considered an unfriendly act with potential negative consequences for bilateral relations. The funeral serves both as a mourning event and a political demonstration amid ongoing domestic unrest and international tensions.