Tens of thousands of people marched through Tehran on Monday, July 6, 2026, for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 years until his death on February 28. A bombing campaign by the United States and Israel caused his death and started a short war. As his body was carried through the city, his supporters showed anger and demanded revenge.
The crowd was very angry at Western leaders, according to BBC News. Some women held signs in English that said "KILL TRUMP." People also burned flags of the United States and Britain. Mourners carried posters of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with targets on their faces. They threw rocks at a large picture of Trump with the message, "The U.S. killed our father. We won't let you go!"
The Ayatollah's body was accompanied by four relatives who also died in the bombing. These included his daughter, a grandchild, a son-in-law, and the wife of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba, who was chosen as the new Supreme Leader, has not been seen publicly since the war began. He was reportedly injured in the same attack that killed his family.
Other political figures attended, including current Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The funeral caused normal life in Tehran to stop, with the airspace closed and traffic restricted. This event happened shortly after Iran and the U.S. agreed to a temporary ceasefire. They have 60 days to finalize a peace agreement, discuss economic sanctions, and talk about Iran's nuclear program.
Israel stated that Khamenei was killed because he planned attacks against Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any future Iranian leader who tries to harm Israel will face the same consequences. The funeral procession will continue to other cities in Iran and Iraq before the bodies are laid to rest in Mashhad.