Ali Khamenei funeral: Hymns, tears and prayers: Huge crowds gather in Tehran for Ali Khamenei funeral – Watch
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran continued its funeral for its late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, with the capital’s Grand Mosalla complex and surrounding streets packed with people paying their last respects.Prayers were said at Khamenei’s coffin the day after the state funeral, in a multi-day ceremony that authorities said could ultimately draw millions of attendees.The vast religious complex was packed with black-clad mourners, many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the late leader, as they made their way through crowded streets amid tight security and sweltering summer heat.
Masses of mourners gathered and the Great Mosala was overcrowded
The Grand Mosala complex and nearby roads were packed with attendees on Sunday morning, with long queues forming to enter the prayer hall, local AFP reporters reported.As temperatures exceeded 35°C, authorities arranged refreshments and implemented crowd control measures as mourners performed funeral prayers for Khamenei and his family members who were killed along with him in the February 28 airstrike that also marked the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.During the ceremony, Khamenei’s coffin was draped in the Iranian flag and tied with a black headscarf, and was placed alongside the coffins of several relatives, including his young granddaughter.
Senior clergy and leaders lead funeral prayers
The prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex were led by prominent Shia cleric Ja’far Sobhani, a 97-year-old seminary scholar from Qom.State television showed senior Iranian leaders including President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf attending the ceremony along with other senior officials.Khamenei’s sons Masoud, Mustafa and Messam were also present, according to AFP, while his successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who has reportedly been out of public view since the February attacks, was noticeably absent.
Emotional scenes, slogans and political overtones
The large attendance was accompanied by emotional scenes and a strong political message, with mourners gathering inside and outside the venue to chant slogans.Some participants at the funeral chanted slogans including “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” during the meeting, reflecting long-standing tensions between Iran and the West.A poet who addressed the crowd also made provocative remarks about US President Donald Trump, asking: “Why is the meanest man in the world still alive?”, prompting a strong reaction from mourners.
A procession is planned as the ceremony continues
Sunday was declared a national public holiday in Iran and authorities expected attendance to increase further as Khamenei’s body is scheduled to carry out a series of processions through Tehran in the coming days and then to other cities.Officials warned that extreme heat and crowd safety risks would persist as gatherings intensified, while strict security measures would remain in place in and around the capital.The funeral, which comes after weeks of regional conflict and political uncertainty, is closely watched as a measure of public support for Iran’s leadership at a sensitive geopolitical moment.
