Thousands of Iranians gathered at Enqelab Square in Tehran on Sunday morning to mourn Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Saturday. The Iranian government announced a 40-day mourning period, as state media confirmed the death of the 86-year-old leader.
The airstrikes also targeted top Iranian officials, including Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and IRGC Chief Commander Mohammad Pakpour, all of whom were killed in the attacks.
Mourners expressed both grief and anger at the killings.
- “We came here to show that we are more united than ever. We will always be there for our revolution,” said one participant.
- “They have assassinated our leader, but they should know that we will get our revenge,” another mourner declared.
- A female participant added, “Let them not think that by targeting our supreme leader, they can come into our country. We will not give even a single centimeter of our country.”
The joint U.S.-Israel strikes occurred on Saturday morning, targeting Tehran and other Iranian cities including Tabriz, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military installations across the region, signaling a dramatic escalation in tensions.
The public displays of mourning in Tehran highlight the emotional and political impact of Khamenei’s death on the country and underscore the deepening crisis in the Middle East following the high-profile airstrikes.
