At the funeral of assassinated Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Sunday, mourners called for the killing of Donald Trump. The event, held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, featured a poetry recitation where Mohammad Rasouli declared, "From now on the shroud is our garment. I swear by your blood; Trump's murder is our responsibility." He added, "Why is the most bastard man in the world still alive? The world is no longer a good place for Trump. Why should we not kill the man who killed our imam? It would be a disgrace if we did not." The crowd reacted with enthusiasm.
Massive turnout and militant atmosphere
The funeral drew a far larger and more militant crowd than the previous day, with many staying overnight or arriving before dawn. Attendees waved Iranian flags, pictures of Khamenei, and red flags symbolizing vengeance. The venue, which holds 30,000 people, was filled well before dawn. Some men wore white burial shrouds to show willingness to die as martyrs. Unofficial authorities claimed over 2 million attended the opening day of the ceremony.
Political spectacle and revenge calls
Iranian officials used the funeral to project resilience and unity. Khalil Shirgholami, Iran's ambassador to Armenia, said on X, "You can kill people, but you can't kill ideals. You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality you broke a bottle of perfume, the fragrance of which has now spread everywhere." Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the national security council, noted, "People are shouting two slogans: resistance against enemies and revenge for the blood of the martyred leader of Iran."
Absence of new supreme leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, remained absent from public view for the third month since his father's death. He did not attend the funeral, unlike his brothers Mustafa, Massoud, and Meysam, who stood beside the coffin. Officials acknowledged Mojtaba was injured in the attacks but said no permanent disfigurement occurred.
Funeral details and attendance
The main funeral prayers were led by Ayatollah Ja'far Sobhani, a 97-year-old cleric. Readings were given for Khamenei and three family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter. Senior Iranian officials, including Quds force commander Esmail Qaani and IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, attended, indicating confidence in the ceasefire with the US. The streets around the mosque were decorated with pictures of Mojtaba, and clerics distributed books of his speeches.
Mourners' grief and resolve
Many mourners traveled long distances with little income to attend. Pilgrims slept in makeshift dormitories, and volunteers offered food and drink. Leila Ahmadi said, "We will fight the Americans with pitchforks if necessary." Husain Dehghan, a 70-year-old book translator, explained, "People have been in a devastating state of shock. It is completely unacceptable to assassinate the major leader of another country when there was no declared war." He noted that even some who protested earlier this year now see the US and Israel as not having Iran's goodwill in mind.
