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Millions of mourners have gathered in Tehran as Iran begins a week of funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike in late February. The 86-year-old, who led the Islamic Republic for 37 years, was killed alongside several family members at his Tehran residence, as reported by multiple outlets including ABC Australia, Africa News, and BBC — World.

The funeral, which began on Saturday, has drawn vast crowds to the capital, with the body lying in state at the Grand Mosalla mosque complex. Authorities expect 15-20 million people to attend ceremonies across Iran and Iraq over the coming days, according to BBC — World, while Africa News reported an expected attendance of over 10 million in Tehran alone.

The ceremonies take place during a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US, with peace talks on hold until after the funeral, according to Africa News. The event comes more than four months after the airstrikes that killed Khamenei and triggered a wider regional conflict.

Coverage comparison

Reports from different outlets agree on the core facts: Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28, his funeral is drawing enormous crowds, and his body will eventually be buried in his hometown of Mashhad. However, the scale of attendance and the tone of the coverage vary.

ABC Australia described "millions of Iranians" gathering in Tehran, while France 24 — English reported "hundreds of thousands of mourners" along Revolution Avenue on the third day of ceremonies. BBC — World cited authorities expecting 15-20 million attendees across Iran and Iraq. Africa News reported that authorities expect more than 10 million people to take part in ceremonies in Tehran.

The outlets also frame the funeral's significance differently. France 24 noted that the mass mobilization was partly intended by the government as a show of strength despite weeks of US-Israeli bombardment. ABC Australia characterized Khamenei's legacy as "complex and divisive," with some viewing him as a martyr and others as a dictator.

All reports describe the somber atmosphere, with mourners weeping, beating their chests, and carrying banners and flags. Africa News reported mourners chanting "Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!" and carrying banners calling for the killing of US President Donald Trump.

Some details are reported by only one outlet. For example, Africa News reported that the funeral prayers were led by prominent Shia cleric Ja'far Sobhani, a 97-year-old scholar, and that Khamenei's son Mojtaba, who assumed the position of supreme leader, has not been seen in public and is said to have been wounded in the strike. These claims have not been corroborated by other sources covered here.

Key claims

  • Khamenei was killed at age 86 in a joint US and Israeli airstrike on February 28, along with several family members. This is reported by ABC Australia, Africa News, BBC — World, and France 24.
  • The funeral is expected to draw millions of people, with authorities projecting 15-20 million attendees across Iran and Iraq, as reported by BBC — World, and more than 10 million in Tehran, according to Africa News.
  • Khamenei's body was displayed in a glass case at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, as reported by Africa News and ABC Australia.
  • His body will be taken to Qom, Najaf, and Karbala before burial in Mashhad next Thursday, according to ABC Australia and Africa News.
  • The funeral is taking place during a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US, with peace talks on hold, as reported by Africa News.
  • Khamenei's legacy is complex and divisive, with some viewing him as a martyr and others as a dictator, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Mourners chanted "Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!" during the funeral, a claim carried by Africa News.
  • Khamenei's son Mojtaba has not been seen in public since assuming the role of supreme leader, as reported by Africa News and BBC — World.
Coverage also included reactions from mourners. ABC Australia quoted one Tehran resident, Marzieh, saying, "Mr Khamenei was not only important for us but he was important for the whole world." France 24 quoted 34-year-old neurologist Samira Afshari, who said, "His resilience, his words, his character – the older I got, the more I learned, and the more I loved him."

Perspectives

The funeral has drawn strong displays of loyalty and calls for revenge from Khamenei's supporters. In Tehran, mourners chanted anti-US slogans and called for revenge, with some banners calling for the killing of President Trump. One mourner, Arash Rahimi, told Reuters, as reported by BBC — World, "Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their supreme leader."

French 24 reported that Khamenei's supporters view him as a martyr and a symbol of resistance against Western imperialism. The outlet quoted a correspondent noting that supporters point to the crowd as proof that critics underestimated popular backing for the supreme leader.

Iranian authorities have framed the funeral as a unifying national event, declaring Sunday a public holiday. US President Donald Trump, as reported by BBC — World, acknowledged the funeral, saying "We gave them [Iran] a week off for a funeral because we're nice" in a statement about the ongoing peace process.