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Hundreds of thousands of mourners flooded Tehran on Sunday for the funeral procession of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid chants and calls for the death of US President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports.

The crowd, described as massive, stretched for kilometres from Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square, with some observers noting it appeared larger than the 2020 procession for Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani, which drew more than 1 million people. Khamenei's flag-draped coffin, along with those of family members killed in the air strike, was carried aboard a truck decorated to resemble the ornamental grating of an imam's shrine.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia reported that mourners dressed in black flooded into the capital, with throngs calling for Trump's death. The public broadcaster noted the funeral came as Iran negotiates with the US over a permanent end to the war that began with an airstrike on February 28, attributed to Israel and the United States.

South China Morning Post and The Hindu focused on a performer's explicit call for Trump's death. The poet Mohammad Rasouli, addressing the crowd, reportedly said, "Why is the most b*d man in the world still alive?" which drew cheers. Both outlets also noted posters and graffiti at the funeral calling for the killing of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Hindu further reported that an Indian delegation, including Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, attended the funeral, along with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.

Key Claims

  • The funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was attended by hundreds of thousands of people in Tehran, as reported by all three outlets.
  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike at the start of the war launched by Israel and the United States, a claim carried by all three outlets.
  • Iran is negotiating with the US over a permanent end to the war, as reported by all three outlets.
  • A performer at the funeral called for the death of US President Donald Trump, with the poet Mohammad Rasouli's remarks drawing calls of "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" This was reported by the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.
  • Posters and graffiti at the funeral called for the killing of Trump and Netanyahu, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
  • The Indian delegation, including Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Marghera and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, attended the funeral, as reported by The Hindu.
  • Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir attended the state funeral, as reported by The Hindu.

Perspectives

While no distinct viewpoints from named parties other than the mourners themselves were captured in the provided material, the coverage collectively reflects the Iranian government's encouragement of the massive turnout as a sign of strength and the hardline sentiment expressed by the crowd.