Khamenei Martyrdom: Thousands Gather In Tehran To Mourn Assassinated Supreme Leader

Thousands of Iranians gathered at Tehran’s Enqelab Square on Sunday to mourn the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes a day earlier.

Iranian state media confirmed the leader’s death on Sunday, prompting the government to declare a 40-day national mourning period. The announcement triggered an outpouring of grief across the capital, with mourners waving national flags, chanting slogans, and vowing unity in the face of what officials described as foreign aggression.

The strikes, launched early Saturday by Israel and the United States, targeted Tehran and several other major cities, including Tabriz, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Iranian authorities said the attacks also killed several top military officials.

Among those reported dead are Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Secretary of the Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, and Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In Enqelab Square, emotions ran high as crowds expressed both sorrow and anger. Some mourners were seen in tears, while others raised clenched fists and chanted against the United States and Israel.

“We came here to show that we are more united than ever. We will always be there for our revolution,” one mourner said.

“They have assassinated our leader, but they should know that we will get our revenge,” another declared.

A female mourner added: “Let them not think that by targeting our supreme leader, they can come into our country. We will not give even a single centimeter of our country.”

Iran responded to the strikes with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and U.S. military bases across the region, significantly escalating tensions in an already volatile Middle East.

The killing of Khamenei marks a dramatic turning point in Iran’s political history and regional geopolitics. Analysts warn that the developments could trigger a wider conflict, as Tehran signals its readiness to retaliate while the international community calls for restraint.

As the mourning period begins, the country faces deep uncertainty over its leadership transition and the broader consequences of the escalating confrontation.