Sea of people bid farewell to former Iranian leader

The hearse carrying the coffin of former Iranian leader Khamenei moved through a sea of mourners across Tehran, amidst cries and calls for revenge.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians flocked to the streets of Tehran on 6/7 to bid farewell to former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as his hearse and family members slowly processed through the capital.

Hassan Hassanzadeh, a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had previously urged citizens to gather at Azadi Square for a peaceful farewell to the former leader.

Iranian authorities expressed concern about potential deadly stampedes, recalling incidents during the 1989 funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei's predecessor.

Iran's security forces surrounded the hearse, working to maintain order and keep mourners from approaching the convoy too closely.

The coffins of Khamenei's family members, who perished in the US and Israel airstrikes on 28/2, were placed beside his.

The hearse carrying former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei slowly moved through a sea of mourners across Tehran's streets. Video: X/@IrnaEnglish

Organizers stated that the procession's original route was altered due to the overwhelming number of attendees, causing delays beyond initial projections.

Central Tehran streets were blocked as citizens continued to gather for a final glimpse of the former leader.

Many mourners waved blood-red flags, symbolizing demands for justice and vengeance for the former Supreme Leader.

A man, wearing a shirt adorned with Ali Khamenei's image, wept openly during the procession.

Throughout the procession, many citizens chanted slogans demanding vengeance for the former leader.

"We want revenge because if we do nothing, the situation will get worse," a man said.

Many carried photos of Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's son. Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since he was elected Supreme Leader, nor was he present at his father's funeral, likely due to security concerns.

After the massive procession in central Tehran, Khamenei's coffin was transported to the holy city of Qom on the evening of 6/7 for religious ceremonies scheduled for 7/7.

From Qom, the coffin will be flown to Iraq for ceremonies in the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on 8/7. It will then return to Iran for a further procession in Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown, ahead of his burial.