Tens of thousands of mourners attended funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February during the opening strikes of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Tens of thousands of Iranians gathered Saturday in Tehran for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the longtime leader of the Islamic Republic who was killed in February at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Mourners wearing black and carrying or wearing the red, white and green flags of Iran filled the funeral site to view Khamenei’s coffin, according to Reuters.
The public funeral is part of a roughly week-long memorial observance that began late this week and is expected to continue into early next week.
Khamenei led the Islamic Republic for 37 years before his death. He was killed during the first round of airstrikes, reportedly carried out by Israel. Iranian state media said the strikes also killed Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law.
Before the large public procession, Khamenei lay in state indoors, where senior Iranian leaders and foreign officials were able to pay respects. China and India were among the countries sending representatives, according to CNN.
Iran’s military and security institutions pledged revenge after Khamenei’s death. During the funeral gathering, chants of “Death to America” echoed through the Mosalla, state broadcaster Seda va Sima said, according to Reuters.
The funeral comes as Iran continues its official mourning period while regional tensions remain high following the U.S.-Israeli war and the killing of the country’s most powerful political and religious figure.
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