Iran Protests Turn to Mourning as Hundreds of Thousands Gather for Khamenei Funeral

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday to begin days-long funeral ceremonies for assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, chanting calls for revenge against Israel and the United States, as Iran protests turn to mourning in a shift from earlier unrest. [1] [2]

Mass Mourning Begins in Tehran

Massive crowds of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Saturday as the country began six days of funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed on the opening day of the US-Israel war on Iran. [3] His coffin, draped beneath his black turban, was placed at the Grand Mosalla in the capital. [3] Mourners, many dressed in black, began arriving before dawn. [3] State television announced the start of the official national funeral shortly after 6am local time. [3] Many people carried red flags bearing the word "Martyr". [3] Chants of "Death to America", "Death to Israel", and "Revenge, revenge" echoed through the crowds. [3] Authorities said they expected between 15 and 20 million people to attend the ceremonies in Tehran alone. [3] The funeral will continue for six days, including events in Iraq, before Khamenei is buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad. [3] Dignitaries from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the funeral. [3] Among them are Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who played a key role in mediating talks with the United States during the war. [3] Senior officials from Russia, China, India and Afghanistan are also expected to attend. [3]

Iran Protests and Calls for Vengeance Dominate Ceremonies

Large-scale public commemorations for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have commenced in the capital, with authorities promoting a message of continuity for the Islamic Republic and vengeance for his killing. [2] Red flags, commonly associated with martyrdom but also viewed as a symbol of revenge in Shia Islam, were seen throughout the Grand Mosalla commemoration site in Tehran and other mass gatherings. [2] “We must rise,” was the official slogan used for the ceremonies, accompanied by an image of Khamenei’s clenched fist on a red and black background. [2] Thousands gathered inside the huge religious complex used for the funeral from the early hours of Saturday morning to pay their respects to the assassinated supreme leader. [2] Khamenei’s coffin, carried to the funeral site by a lorry, was displayed at the centre of the stage and draped in flags. [2] Positioned on an elevated platform in the central court, surrounded by glass and guarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel, authorities were ready to deal with crowds attempting to reach his coffin. [2] Visiting men and women were separated by a large barrier to observe Islamic values. [2] Religious chanting and slogans blasted from loudspeakers around the complex. [2] Videos circulated by state media showed crowds chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” at a number of metro stations. [2] “We are all here to seek blood vengeance for our leader,” Fatemeh, a 55-year-old woman travelling in a group of women clad in black chadors, told Al Jazeera while waiting to enter through a northern gate of the complex. [2] “We will all listen to his son. He will guide the revolution forward,” she said, in reference to Mojtaba Khamenei. [2] IRGC commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi, who made his first appearance since the start of the war, told state TV during an event on Friday to grieve Khamenei so that “enemies will take their wish for our surrender to the grave”. [2] “The enemies must know that the pure blood of our martyred imam was another turning point in the victories of dear Islam against the global infidel front,” he said. [2] IRGC aerospace chief Majid Mousavi, responsible for launching ballistic missiles and drones across the region during the war, also made a public appearance. [2] The central headquarters of armed forces issued a statement to warn against any military action during the ceremonies, after Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said Mojtaba Khamenei was “marked for death”. [2]

Transition to New Leadership

Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since he took office, will not attend the funeral due to security concerns. [2] State-affiliated newspapers and television reported that the supreme leader’s killing had rallied supporters of the Islamic Republic government, which has been in power since the 1979 revolution overthrew Iran’s last shah, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. [2] Authorities are expecting similar huge numbers as attended the 1989 funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. [2] At least eight mourners died in the crowds, forcing the military to evacuate his body by helicopter. [2] All eyes are on whether Mojtaba Khamenei will make his first public appearance since the war began. [3] Injured during the war, he succeeded his father as supreme leader in March and has appeared only through written statements. [3] For many Iranians, Ali Khamenei was the only supreme leader they had ever known. [3] He took over from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after serving as president during the Iran-Iraq War. [3] His nearly four decades as supreme leader were marked by hostility with the United States. [3] Officials have called for a mass turnout to honour Khamenei, who was killed aged 86. [3]

Tight Security and Logistical Measures

A heavy security presence continues in the capital, with armoured vehicles, heavy machine guns and snipers visible throughout the areas surrounding the farewell ceremonies. [2] Men were body searched as they entered the Mosalla, while electronic devices – such as power banks, earphones and lighters – were confiscated from the mourners by security. [2] Significant security measures have been imposed, with roads blocked and people forced sometimes to walk several kilometres to attend the largest-scale public event in Iran since the burial of Khamenei's predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. [4] Authorities will also want the event to go smoothly, deeply aware of the risk of crowd crushes that have marred similar events in the past, with TV broadcasting guidelines on how to stay safe. [4]

Context of Khamenei's Death and Aftermath

Khamenei, 86, was targeted in an airstrike at the start of the war with the United States and Israel on February 28, after ruling Iran with absolute power for nearly 37 years. [2] Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989 and pursued a course of confrontation with the West while crushing dissent at home, was killed aged 86 along with several members of his family and top officials in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war on 28 February. [4] After five weeks of war, the conflict is on hold after a ceasefire and an initial accord with the US. [4] But both the US and Iran have warned they are ready to resume fighting at any time. [4] The killing of Khamenei after over three-and-a-half decades in power created a new era in the Islamic republic shadowed by uncertainty. [4] His funeral is being viewed outside Iran as a test of support for the government, with authorities already shaken by mass protests in January that rights groups say were put down in a crackdown that left thousands dead. [4]

What to watch next: The coming days will be closely watched for signs of Mojtaba Khamenei, who has communicated only by written statements and is said to have been wounded in the same strikes, though the extent of his injuries was never made clear. [4]