Iran Holds Funeral For Slain Leader Khamenei
Iran held funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, who died following an airstrike in escalating U.S.-Israel conflict, with millions expected to mourn in Tehran.
Iran held funeral ceremonies on July 4 for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, who died at age 86 following an airstrike at the onset of conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. Khamenei's coffin was displayed at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran for public mourning. It remains unclear whether current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei will attend his father's funeral. Millions of people are expected to take to the streets in a display similar to the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Iran deliberately chose July 4—the 250th anniversary of American independence—to begin the multi-day funeral ceremonies. U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, claimed the U.S. had handled Iran "smoothly" and said they gave Iran a week to conduct the funeral. Meanwhile, crowds in Tehran chanted "Death to America!" and some called for revenge, with mourners carrying large flags bearing anti-American slogans.
