Mourners gather at the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, Iran, to pay respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. The funeral procession continues as thousands fill the streets during the fourth day of mourning. Khamenei’s body remains on display at the mosque, with a prayer service conducted by Abdollah Javadi-Amoli. The crowd chants “death to America,” a common slogan at official events in Iran.
Footage shows mourners, including clerics, paying homage at the coffins of Khamenei and four relatives who were also martyred in the airstrike, including a granddaughter reportedly just 14 months old. The procession then moves toward the mausoleum of Fatima Masooma, the sister of Imam Reza, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
The previous day, a large funeral procession in Tehran drew extensive crowds, emphasizing strength and unity amid the ongoing war. Iranian officials stated Khamenei was wounded in the same airstrike that assassinated his father, and it’s unclear whether he will participate in upcoming ceremonies. An additional funeral is planned for Wednesday in neighboring Iraq.
The streets of Iran’s capital were flooded with mourners, reminiscent of the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Khamenei, who led Iran for over 30 years, will be buried on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, a sacred city in the northeast.
Khamenei’s successor and son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen publicly since his appointment early March, leaving uncertainty about his participation. The nation continues to honor the late leader amid a period of national mourning and reflection.