Iran Holds Funeral for Khamenei as Crowds Chant Against America and Israel

Iranian state-linked mourning events for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continued in Tehran, with massive funeral crowds, anti-American and anti-Israel chants, and public threats of revenge. Reports say his son Mojtaba Khamenei, named as the new supreme leader, has not appeared publicly.

Large funeral gatherings continued in Iran after reports that former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S. airstrike.

According to Korean media reports, mourners filled roughly 20 kilometers of central Tehran as the funeral procession moved through the city. Crowds dressed in black reached toward the coffin as it passed and chanted, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

Some mourners threw stones at an image of President Donald Trump, comparing him to the devil in a staged display based on an Islamic pilgrimage ritual. A large banner reading, “We will kill Trump,” was also seen moving above the crowd.

The funeral events reportedly began on the 4th and are expected to continue until the 9th. Khamenei’s remains were moved from Tehran to the religious city of Qom, with plans for stops in Karbala, Iraq, and burial in his hometown of Mashhad.

Meanwhile, three of Khamenei’s sons — Masoud, Meysam, and Mostafa — reportedly appeared at funeral prayers in Tehran. But Mojtaba Khamenei, described in the reports as Iran’s new supreme leader, has not appeared publicly.

AP reported that Mojtaba is believed to be hiding for security reasons after allegedly being injured in the same strike that killed his father.

The public appearances by other regime figures appear aimed at projecting unity and defiance. But Mojtaba’s absence raises major questions about the stability and confidence of Iran’s terror-supporting leadership at a critical moment.