Mass rallies held in Tehran to honour late leader Khamenei

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tehran for mass rallies honouring Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the largest crowd assembling at Enghelab (Revolution) Square in the city centre, a TASS correspondent reported.

More than 10,000 participants attended the central rally, chanting slogans in support of the Islamic Republic’s leadership and commemorating Khamenei.

“Allah is great! Khamenei is the leader! Death to America! Death to Israel!” demonstrators shouted, raising their fists and open palms in tribute to the late leader.

Thousands of Iranian flags and portraits of Ali Khamenei, as well as images of the current leader Mojtaba Khamenei, were visible across the square. A monument in the shape of the late leader’s clenched fist stood at the centre, symbolising what organisers described as the resilience of the Iranian people. Similar rallies were reported in other major squares across Tehran and in cities nationwide.

Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years, was killed on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on the country.

Official mourning ceremonies began in Tehran on July 3, attended by high-level delegations from at least 100 countries.

From July 4 to July 5, Khamenei’s body is to lie in state at the Mosalla of Tehran, the capital’s largest religious and public complex, allowing members of the public to pay their respects.

A funeral procession is scheduled for July 6 through central Tehran, after which the body will be transferred to Qom, Iran’s main religious centre, for further memorial events on July 7.

On July 8, the body is expected to be taken to neighbouring Iraq, where additional ceremonies will be held for Shiite communities in Najaf and Karbala. Khamenei is due to be buried on July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad.

By Tamilla Hasanova