Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tehran on Monday as the funeral procession of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued through the Iranian capital, with many participants calling for revenge over his death.
Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin, alongside the coffins of family members reportedly killed in the February 28 airstrike that marked the beginning of the Israel-U.S. military campaign against Iran, was transported on a ceremonial truck toward Mehrabad International Airport.
Large crowds dressed in black gathered along the procession route, reaching out to touch the vehicle carrying the coffins. Others threw scarves and personal belongings toward attendants in the hope the items would be brushed against the caskets, a traditional practice in Iran believed to convey blessings.
The funeral also became a platform for anti-Israel and anti-U.S. demonstrations. Some mourners carried placards calling for the deaths of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while an effigy depicting Trump hanging was displayed along the procession route.
Many attendees said the event symbolised more than a final farewell, describing it as a rallying point for retaliation.
One mourner, Fatima Hassan, said the gathering was driven by a desire for revenge rather than mourning alone.
“Today that we are here for the funeral for our leader, it’s a very tough day,” she said.
“We are not here to say goodbye to him; we are here for revenge. And we will take revenge.”
The funeral procession forms part of Iran’s week-long state mourning ceremonies for Khamenei, whose death has further escalated tensions in the Middle East following months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.