Iranian citizens on Monday, July 6, 2026, vowed that the country must avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, directing their anger toward the United States and Israel.
According to the report, Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Thousands of Iranians turned out for Khamenei’s funeral procession on the outskirts of Tehran, marking the official farewell to the country’s top religious leader.
Monday’s procession was the largest event in a week-long period of national mourning.
Aerial footage broadcast by state television showed thousands of mourners filling major streets in central Tehran.
The coffins of the slain leader and four members of his family were transported through the city on a large truck, while fire engines sprayed water over the crowds to help ease the intense heat.
As the procession passed beneath a bridge, mourners threw stones at a banner displaying U.S. President Donald Trump with what appeared to be a bullet wound to the head.
“The United States killed our father. We will not let them escape,” read the message on the banner.
The mourners waved Iranian flags and carried red banners bearing the slogan, “Avengers of Khamenei,” a phrase with deep significance in Shia Islam dating back to the killing of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson in the seventh century.
On Sunday, three of Khamenei’s sons prayed beside his coffin during a ceremony held at a large prayer hall in Tehran.
However, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly succeeded his father as Iran’s Supreme Leader, did not appear in public.
Reports claim he suffered facial injuries that left him permanently disfigured during the attack that killed his father.
Since the war began on February 28 following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, Mojtaba has not been seen publicly.
The mourning ceremonies began on Friday, when the coffins of Ayatollah Khamenei, one of his daughters, his 14-month-old grandchild, one of his sons-in-law, and Mojtaba’s wife were displayed for Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries to pay their final respects.
Additional public mourning ceremonies were held on Saturday and Sunday before Monday’s massive funeral procession.
Later this week, Khamenei’s body is expected to be taken to the holy city of Qom, the center of Shia religious scholarship in Iran, and then to two Shia holy cities in Iraq before being returned to Iran for burial at the historic cemetery in Mashhad.
The conflict ended after a preliminary peace agreement reached last month.
The war left Iran’s religious leadership in power, with officials declaring victory and claiming to have strengthened the country’s influence through its control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
President Donald Trump also declared victory, although his stated objectives at the start of the conflict—including destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, preventing future attacks on neighboring countries, and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their leaders—were reportedly not achieved.
Trump said over the weekend that peace talks between the United States and Iran had been postponed for one week because of the funeral ceremonies.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Ayatollah Khamenei was killed because he had led efforts to destroy Israel.
“Any Iranian leader who again attempts to carry out plans to destroy Israel will also be eliminated,” Katz said.
Note: The events described in this article—including the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the subsequent developments—are presented as claims within the source text. They do not reflect established historical facts as of my verified knowledge and would require independent verification if presented as news.
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