Millions join Khamenei funeral procession in Tehran

Millions of mourners joined the funeral procession for Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, authorities said.

The ceremony followed his killing on February 28 in the war with the United States and Israel. Officials have not confirmed an official turnout figure, but images showed crowds filling major boulevards in the capital.

How large was the crowd at Khamenei's funeral procession?

Authorities have not released an official turnout figure for Monday's procession, but AFP images showed vast crowds stretching along major boulevards in Tehran. Officials hope the numbers could rival the millions who attended the 1989 funeral of Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, according to state news agency IRNA. "If I am to compare this ceremony to that one, I can say they are not different at all. But the crowd this time seems more enthusiastic," said Gholamreza Khanbabaei, 58, who attended the procession.

Tehran's airspace was closed on Monday as the country stood still to remember the former leader. The 20-kilometer route saw trucks spray mourners with water to cool them in sweltering heat. Organizers handed out Iranian flags and pictures of Ali and Mojtaba Khamenei as flower petals covered the coffin along the way.

What happened during the funeral procession in Tehran?

Mourners marched through the streets waving flags of Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, along with red flags symbolizing revenge. Others gathered in Imam Hussein Square in eastern Tehran and hanged an effigy of US President Donald Trump, according to state media. Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was seen attending the procession, local media reported.

A day earlier, thousands filled Tehran's Grand Mosalla complex to pay respects to Khamenei and four family members killed in the Israeli airstrikes, which were based on US intelligence. Massive concrete walls at the complex separated the public from the coffin to prevent stampedes.

Why is Mojtaba Khamenei's absence significant?

Attention remains focused on Khamenei's successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader shortly after his father's killing but has not appeared in public since. Officials have said he was wounded in the airstrikes, though the severity of his injuries remains unclear. Three of Ali Khamenei's other sons made a rare public appearance at Sunday's funeral, further highlighting Mojtaba's continued absence.

The new commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, also appeared publicly for a second time on Sunday, this time in the open air, after going unseen throughout the war. Esmail Qaani, the shadowy head of the Guards' Quds Force, made a rare appearance as well.

How is Iran avoiding a repeat of the 1989 funeral chaos?

Crowd surges during Khomeini's 1989 farewell killed more than 10 people and injured over 10,000, and authorities are working to prevent similar chaos this week. Mourners at that funeral stormed Khomeini's vehicle, tearing his burial shroud and causing his body to fall, forcing officials to use a helicopter to complete the transport. It remains unclear what level of access the public will have during Monday's procession.

What is the schedule for Khamenei's burial?

Monday's procession will be followed by similar ceremonies in the clerical hub of Qom on Tuesday. Events then move to Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday. The proceedings culminate with Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.

Why does the funeral carry a message of revenge?

The Middle East war remains on hold under a ceasefire and initial accord with the US, though both Washington and Tehran have warned they are ready to resume military action. Vengeance has been a major theme at the funeral, reflecting Khamenei's long pursuit of confrontation with the West. Tehran has for years supported anti-US and anti-Israel armed groups across the Middle East, including Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which sent delegations to the ceremonies.

The government is also eager to display mass mobilization in support of the authorities after January's mass protests, which rights groups say were quelled by a crackdown that killed thousands. Some of Khamenei's supporters at Monday's procession echoed the confrontational message. "We want revenge. It must be done. Because later, if it's not done, it will get worse," Khanbabaei said.