The funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei unfolded as a large-scale anti-American demonstration. In central Tehran, where the funeral procession passed, chants condemning the United States and Israel continued without pause, and some mourners staged a performance of throwing stones at a photograph of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to CNN and other foreign media, chants such as "Death to America" and "Kill Trump" erupted repeatedly during the funeral held Friday. Footage released by Iranian state media also captured mourners throwing small stones at photographs bearing Trump's face.
The act borrowed from a traditional ritual of the Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj), in which stones are thrown at objects symbolizing the devil. At this funeral, it was interpreted as a staged act carrying a political message defining President Trump as a symbol of "evil."
At various points across the site, participants waved or burned American and Israeli flags. The anti-American chants were seen as a return of slogans repeated at national events since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"The Leader's Blood Will Be Avenged"...Assassination Bounty Placards Appear
A large crowd of mourners dressed in black gathered at the funeral, holding photographs of Khamenei and the Iranian flag as they bid a final farewell. Iranian state broadcasting reported that millions gathered in downtown Tehran.
Some participants took to the demonstration carrying assassination bounty placards reading "Kill Trump" along with the message that "a bounty of $20 million (approximately 30.5 billion won) will be paid to anyone who avenges Khamenei's death." It was reported that flyers placing responsibility for Khamenei's death on the United States and the Trump administration were also distributed at the site.
Zahra Balaei, a 30-year-old female mourner, said, "We will certainly avenge the leader's blood. We will take revenge so that his sacrifice is not in vain." Some mourners waved red flags, which symbolize revenge in Shiite Islam, steeling their resolve.
Successor Mojtaba Ultimately Absent...Health Concerns Raised
The funeral procession that day saw the full turnout of Iran's leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani. Notably, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who had grown politically distant from Khamenei amid conflicts in the latter part of his rule, also appeared, drawing attention.
By contrast, Mojtaba Khamenei, who rose to Supreme Leader last March, did not appear in public throughout the funeral period. For this reason, concerns about his health have again been raised. Foreign media reported ongoing speculation that Mojtaba suffered serious injuries to his face and legs during recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
Khamenei's funeral procedures are set to continue through Qom in Iran and at the Shiite holy sites of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. He is then to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad on the 9th. Iranian authorities said they deployed a large security force to avoid repeating the massive crush that occurred during the 1989 funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini, and that no casualties have been reported so far.
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