The funeral procession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has concluded in Tehran, drawing a massive crowd of mourners who expressed their grief and solidarity with familiar slogans. The sombre event served as a powerful display of national unity and resistance, but it also underscored the deep-seated divisions within Iranian society. As the country navigates its current crisis, the international community is watching closely to see how Iran's new leadership will respond to mounting pressure to address economic woes and contain calls for revenge.
The funeral cortege, carrying the coffins of Ayatollah Khamenei and four family members, traversed a 10km route through Tehran, passing by densely packed city arteries. Millions of mourners lined the streets, openly expressing their grief and chanting slogans such as "death to America" and "death to Israel". Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed US President Donald Trump's claims that the public's tears were "fake", asserting that the genuine nature of the people's sorrow was evident.
However, not all Iranians participated in the funeral. A significant number reportedly stayed away, grappling with the profound impact of two wars within a year and an inflation rate estimated at around 80%. The lingering pain from anti-government protests earlier in January added to their reluctance to participate. Some critical voices attribute the severe security crackdowns that resulted in thousands of deaths to Khamenei, who also held the position of commander-in-chief.
The deceased included Khamenei's 14-month-old granddaughter, Zara, and four other family members, all reportedly killed in Israeli-American air strikes on 28th February. This detail significantly amplified the calls for retribution, with religious flags symbolising blood and martyrdom prominent among the crowds. Posters targeting Trump were also visible, seemingly directed at the hundreds of foreign journalists granted rare access to cover the funeral.
The funeral proceedings will now move to significant Shia Muslim pilgrimage sites, including Qom on Tuesday, followed by Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq. The final burial is scheduled for Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Ayatollah Khamenei's birthplace and Iran's holiest city. Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University, noted that these ceremonies are designed to portray Khamenei as a transcendent religious and political figure whose influence extended across the Muslim world, particularly within Shia Islam.
Despite the strong rhetoric and calls for revenge, Iran's new leadership faces pressing economic realities. Having endured weeks of conflict, they are under pressure to continue negotiations with Western powers in order to secure much-needed relief through the easing of international sanctions and the unfreezing of assets, essential for addressing the country's deepening economic crisis.