Massive Funeral Procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Draws Huge Crowds in Tehran

Tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Monday for the largest funeral procession yet honoring slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country continued a week of memorial events aimed at showcasing the resilience of Iran's clerical leadership following the recent conflict.

State television aired drone footage showing vast crowds filling major streets in central Tehran. The coffins of Khamenei and four members of his family were transported through the city on a large truck, while water was sprayed from overhead to help cool mourners amid the intense summer heat.

As the funeral convoy moved through the capital, emotions ran high. Some mourners threw stones at a billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a bullet aimed at his head alongside anti-U.S. slogans. Others burned U.S. and British flags, while demonstrators carried signs displaying images of Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inside crosshairs with threatening messages. Many participants also waved Iranian flags and red banners invoking calls for vengeance tied to Shi'ite religious symbolism.

The funeral follows several days of memorial ceremonies that began Friday, when Khamenei's coffin and those of several family members were displayed for Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries. On Sunday, three of Khamenei's sons participated in prayers beside the casket, but newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear publicly. Reports indicate he is recovering from injuries sustained in the attack that killed his father during Israeli and U.S. airstrikes that began on February 28.

Iranian authorities said the funeral procession will continue later this week with ceremonies in the holy city of Qom and Shi'ite shrine cities in neighboring Iraq before Khamenei is buried in Mashhad.

Although a preliminary peace agreement reached last month ended the conflict, both Tehran and Washington continue to claim victory while key objectives remain unresolved. President Trump said peace negotiations with Iran have been postponed for a week because of the funeral events. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Khamenei was targeted because of his alleged role in efforts to destroy Israel, warning that any future Iranian leader pursuing similar policies would face the same fate.