Iranians Display Symbols of Revenge During Third Day of Former Leader Khamenei’s Funeral

On the third day of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral, hundreds of mourners waved red flags emblematic of vengeance, according to Iranian state media reports on Monday. The late leader was killed in February during the initial phase of Operation Roaring Lion, with his funeral proceedings delayed due to the ongoing conflict.

The ceremonies, which commenced on Saturday with chants of “death to America, death to Israel,” are projected to span a week, featuring nationwide gatherings. Thousands of Iranians, including grieving participants beating their chests and some staying overnight, convened at the Mosalla complex. The metro system recorded 7 million trips between late Saturday and Sunday morning as crowds moved toward the site.

Authorities are organizing large-scale processions in the coming days, providing transportation, food, and accommodations for attendees. Mourners were captured in state media videos chanting, “Our slogan is one word: Revenge, revenge,” and “We will kill, we will kill he who killed our Imam.” Khamenei’s remains are set to be transported to Shi’ite holy sites in Qom, Najaf, and Kerbala before burial on Thursday in Mashhad, home to Iran’s most sacred shrine.

Reports indicate that Khamenei’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not attended the ceremonies due to fears of an Israeli assassination attempt. His brothers, Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud, were instead seen participating in prayers at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla. Mojtaba, reportedly injured in the February 28 attack that killed his father and other relatives, has not appeared publicly. His condition was described as severe, with facial disfigurement and leg injuries.

A senior Iranian military commander, Ali Abdollahi of the Joint Command Khatam al-Anbiya, cautioned on Friday that any Israeli or U.S. actions during the funeral would provoke “harsh and regrettable responses.” This followed the unannounced public display of Khamenei’s coffin in Tehran, where officials like Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Ahmad Vahidi made rare appearances since the war’s outset.

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