Thousands gathered across Iran on Thursday to honor former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28, with ceremonies coinciding with the traditional 40-day mourning period. Major rallies were held in Tehran, Urmia and Gorgan as a fragile ceasefire paused strikes. Attendees voiced deep skepticism about upcoming negotiations in Pakistan and called for a strong response following heavy Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Thousands Rally Across Iran To Honor Khamenei After Deadly Strike; Mistrust Voiced Ahead Of Pakistan Talks
Holding portraits of their deceased leader and waving flags of the Islamic republic, supporters of Khamenei took part in rallies across the country after he was assassinated in a strike (-)(-/AFP/AFP)
Thousands of people across Iran gathered on Thursday to pay tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 in a strike that marked the opening day of the war with the United States and Israel. Attendees carried portraits and waved the national flag, and many voiced skepticism about upcoming negotiations expected to take place in Pakistan.
The rallies coincided with the traditional 40-day mourning period observed in many Muslim communities. The largest gatherings were in Tehran, where operations paused after a fragile ceasefire took effect Tuesday night, and in the cities of Urmia and Gorgan.
The commemorations began at 9:40 a.m. local time (0610 GMT) — the exact moment reported to have killed Khamenei at his Tehran residence along with dozens of senior officers and officials. State television broadcast images of President Masoud Pezeshkian joining the tribute and posing with attendees.
Mojtaba Khamenei, named as his father’s successor in early March, has not appeared publicly since his appointment; Iranian officials say he was wounded in a strike. A state funeral for Khamenei was announced but ultimately could not be held because of the ongoing conflict.
Voices From The Rallies
'The killing of our beloved leader was truly cowardly,' said Maryam Esmaeili, a 33-year-old private-sector employee. 'The US and Israel crossed our red line,' she added.
Many attendees expressed distrust of the planned talks in Pakistan. 'What they say about the ceasefire and its violation is a repetition of history,' Esmaeili said, urging Iranians not to be 'fooled by the empty promises of hypocritical countries.'
'Now it is our duty to act in response to this aggression,' said Mahdi Mohaddes, a 41-year-old engineer, who stood amid Hezbollah flags and praised the movement allied with Tehran.
Other participants pointed to heavy Israeli strikes in Lebanon that reportedly killed more than 200 people, calling for a firm and proportional response. Officials said Iran retaliated after the initial strike with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states it accused of hosting US launch sites.
The rallies underscored national grief and political tensions as a fragile ceasefire holds and diplomats prepare for talks intended to ease the wider regional conflict.
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