Tehran Erupts: Millions Honor Khamenei with Protests Against the U.S. and Israel

El Ciudadano

Original article: Teherán se desborda: millones despiden a Khamenei entre consignas contra EE.UU. e Israel

Tehran awoke this Monday to a human sea. Millions of people flooded the streets of the Iranian capital to attend the funeral procession of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and three family members, creating a collective mourning scene that officials are calling the largest mass gathering in the modern history of the Islamic nation.

The tide that began flowing from the early hours of the morning chanted in unison slogans against the United States and Israel, demanding «revenge against the murderers» of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, killed on February 28.

The magnitude of the event has overwhelmed all logistical forecasts. Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Iran described an unceasing stream of people filling the city’s main arteries. Indeed, Iranian officials estimate that the procession route will last approximately 12 hours.

In a gesture underscoring the significance of the moment, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran, Brigadier General Hassan Zadeh, announced that the coffin of the deceased leader will be transported via helicopter at the end of the ceremony to fly over the procession route again, allowing the masses who could not get close to the coffin to bid farewell to the Ayatollah.

In this context, political analysts consulted by the quoted media interpret this massive influx as a clear message of national unity, going beyond a mere act of mourning to make a public declaration of principles.

They noted that the popular response is a strong assertion that «the blood of the martyr was not spilled in vain«, reflecting a state of political and negotiating consciousness that strengthens the position of the Islamic Republic against its international adversaries.

According to Al Mayadeen, the event transcends the political figure, becoming «a religious, national, cultural, and civilizational symbol against arrogance and tyranny».

The farewell ceremony, which has kept the Persian capital on edge for nearly two full days with uninterrupted visits to the Imam Khomeini prayer hall, concluded this morning to give way to the final procession. However, the funeral ceremonies are far from over.

20 Million Expected to Participate in Khamenei’s Funeral Events

The official schedule indicates that the funeral events will last six days and will travel through various regions of Iran, including stops in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. It is estimated that total participation throughout the itinerary will reach 20 million people, making this funeral the largest official event in the country’s history.

The coffin will ultimately be buried on July 9 at the majestic mausoleum of Imam Reza in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, a location that underscores the fallen leader’s deep religious connection to Shia tradition. The magnitude of this mobilization not only honors the memory of the leader but also demonstrates the regime’s strong popular base after overcoming challenges like the so-called twelve-day war with Israel in June 2025 and the subsequent conflict with the United States and the Zionist entity, which is currently under a fragile ceasefire agreement.

The Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei was assassinated in his office at the «Leadership House» while performing his duties, a victim of an attack carried out by the United States and Israel in the early hours of Saturday, February 28, a crime that the Iranian people demand not go unpunished.

*Featured image: Al Mayadeen.

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