TEHRAN – The solemn farewell ceremony for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei began at dawn on Saturday at Tehran’s Grand Imam Khomeini Mosalla, drawing millions of mourners from across the nation in a historic display of grief and unwavering allegiance.
The first stage of the funeral ceremonies commenced at 6:00 a.m., with the doors of the Mosalla opened earlier than scheduled to accommodate the vast crowds who had gathered since the previous night. 
Many mourners had spent the night in the surrounding streets, waiting to pay their final respects to the leader who guided the nation for 37 years. The atmosphere was infused with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, eulogies, and the profound sorrow of a nation that lost its supreme commander in a cowardly U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, the opening day of the 40-day war.
The sheer magnitude of the turnout underscored the deep bond between the Iranian people and their martyred leader. State officials estimated that between 15 and 20 million mourners would participate in the week-long funeral processions across the country. 
The streets of Tehran, from the early hours of Saturday, were filled with mourners—men and women, young and old—dressed in black, carrying portraits of the late leader and chanting slogans of “Death to America” and “Revenge, Revenge”.
The Mosalla grounds became a sea of black, with mourners from all walks of life and from every corner of Iran converging on the capital. Families with children, elderly citizens, and youth alike came to bid farewell to the man who had become the symbol of resistance and national unity. The presence of foreign delegations from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas further underscored the global significance of the loss.
The farewell ceremony was marked by powerful symbols that encapsulated the spirit of resistance embodied by the martyred leader. The official slogan of the event, “We Must Rise,” was emblazoned across the Mosalla, alongside the official emblem of a clenched fist. This symbol, inspired by the late leader’s final moments, represents the indomitable spirit of resistance that will continue to guide the nation.
The slogan “We Must Rise” resonates as a call to action, echoing the principles of standing up against tyranny and oppression that were central to the teachings of the late leader. The clenched fist, representing unity and strength, serves as a reminder that the path of resistance is a collective responsibility, one that will be pursued with unwavering determination.
The atmosphere in the Mosalla was of renewed resolve. Mourners, with tears streaming down their faces, chanted slogans demanding revenge for the blood of their beloved leader. The names of “Ya Latharat al-Hussein” and “Ya Latharat al-Qaed al-Shahid” echoed through the halls, underscoring the collective determination to seek retribution against the perpetrators of this crime.
In a poignant moment, the families of martyrs from various provinces, including Hormozgan, were seen among the mourners. They came not only to bid farewell but to renew their allegiance to the cause and to announce their readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of their nation and their faith. 
Their presence, despite the long and arduous journey, highlighted the deep-rooted commitment to the principles of resistance and sacrifice.
The farewell ceremony also witnessed significant statements from state officials, reinforcing the nation’s resolve in the face of this immense loss. The Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement declaring that the “hearts of the Iranian people will not find peace until the perpetrators of this crime are punished,” and reaffirmed its commitment to “avenge the blood of the martyred leader”.
Hassan Hasanzadeh, the head of the funeral committee, confirmed that the bodies of the martyred leader and his family members will be transferred from the Mosalla on Sunday evening. He also stated that the funeral procession would take place on Monday, emphasizing that the transportation of the bodies would be conducted via ground vehicles, allowing for maximum public participation.
The mourners, in turn, made it clear that their presence was not just an act of farewell but a testament to their unwavering loyalty. They pledged to follow the path laid out by the late leader, to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, and to carry the torch of resistance until the last drop of their blood.
A senior citizen, wiping away tears, told a reporter, “We have lost our father, but we will not let his legacy die. We will continue to stand up against the oppressors, just as he taught us.” Another young woman, holding a portrait of the late leader, declared, “We are here to show the world that we are united and that we will never bow down to tyranny.” 
The ceremony also witnessed a clear demonstration of allegiance to the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. The chants of “Labbaik Ya Sayyed Mojtaba” reverberated through the Mosalla, signaling the people’s acceptance of the new leadership and their commitment to continue the path of resistance.
The transition of leadership was marked by a sense of continuity and purpose. The mourners, in their grief, found solace in the knowledge that the principles of resistance, independence, and dignity that defined the late leader’s tenure would remain intact under the new leadership.
The farewell ceremony marks the beginning of a week of mourning across Iran. The body of the martyred leader will be taken to Qom, Najaf, and Karbala before being laid to rest in Mashhad. A public holiday has been declared for Sunday to allow for maximum participation in the funeral rites. The government has also announced that a special session of parliament will be held to honor the late leader’s legacy and to outline the path forward.
The funeral ceremonies, which have drawn participation from across the political spectrum and from diverse segments of society, serve as a powerful reminder of the deep-rooted unity and resilience of the Iranian people. In the face of adversity, they have stood firm, united by their shared values and their commitment to the principles of resistance and independence.
Foreign media outlets were compelled to acknowledge the scale and significance of the event. CNN described the funeral as an “epic display of mourning, national power, and social cohesion,” noting that the spectacle unfolds on the 250th American Independence Day — a convergence that turns an imperial milestone into a showcase of Washington’s foreign policy failure. 
Reuters reported that “mourners filed into the vast courtyard... beating their chests, wailing and waving banners,” capturing the raw emotion of a populace that has transformed personal grief into a collective statement of resolve.
The Associated Press (AP) noted that “hundreds of thousands of mourners began a dayslong funeral... calling for revenge against Israel and the United States,” rhythmically chanting, “Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!” 
The Guardian, despite its tendency to magnify Iran’s challenges, conceded that “the scale of the six-day funeral has been conceived to relay political and religious messages of resistance to the rest of the world,” admitting that the event has become one of the greatest in Iran’s history since the 1979 revolution .
The presence of diplomatic delegations from nearly 100 countries — including senior officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Armenia, Iraq, and other regional states — has been interpreted by analysts as a sign of a “global renewal of allegiance” to the ideals of the martyred leader. 
Reuters and The New York Times emphasized that the long line of diplomats and religious leaders at Tehran’s Mosalla displayed an image of the “spiritual and political influence” of the late leader on the international stage — influence that extends beyond geographic borders.
The Anadolu Agency described the event as “one of the most extensive diplomatic, media, and security operations of recent decades,” noting the presence of 14,000 journalists and photographers from around the world. 
Al Jazeera reported that “representatives from more than 100 countries” attended, transforming the capital into a hub of solidarity despite reported State Department pressure to deter dignitaries.
Hebrew-language media acknowledged that the events in Tehran amounted to “the consolidation of Iran’s victory on the battlefield,” noting that instead of fracturing the state, Western aggression permanently cemented coordination with the Resistance Front. 
Israeli analysts observed that the arrival of foreign delegations, despite American attempts to sabotage the event, represents a severe political defeat for Washington.
Testimonies collected by international media underlined a deeply ingrained generational commitment to the path of resistance. “Imam Khamenei was our heart, our father, our everything,” mourner Masoumeh Muhammadi told AP. “We will not rest until we avenge his death.” 
Mobina Razaaghi, an 18-year-old student from Isfahan, told Reuters that “only by avenging his blood, demanding justice for it, and ensuring that our Leader’s blood is not left unavenged, can this sorrow be somewhat alleviated”.
Arash Rahimi, 40, declared: “We will certainly avenge his blood... Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their Leader. As our Leader has said, we have a blood feud with the United States.” 
These testimonies reflect a broader sentiment that the funeral is not merely a farewell but a mandate for continued resistance and retaliation.
The Wall Street Journal admitted the ceremonies constituted a “massive show of defiance by the Islamic Republic against the West,” set to be “one of the largest gatherings in history”. 
A translator, Hussein Ansari, told the newspaper that the crowds would “show to those inside and outside the country that, unlike what is being portrayed in the West, the majority of the people respected him in the country even if they were not that religious”.
An unnamed woman characterized the political legacy of Ayatollah Khamenei to the newspaper as “Iran-centrism and resistance against the world’s major powers, in the sense that we should decide our own future ourselves”. 
Wang Jin, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Northwest University in China, said Iran’s ability to bring together millions of mourners reflected continued internal cohesion and strong mobilization capacity through religious and political networks. 
He noted that the presence of non-Western states showed that efforts to isolate Iran had not achieved their intended effect, pointing to sustained engagement from countries outside the Western bloc and to Iran’s ability to maintain ties through a more multipolar international environment.
The mourners, in turn, made it clear that their presence was not just an act of farewell but a testament to their unwavering loyalty. They pledged to follow the path laid out by the late leader, to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, and to carry the torch of resistance until the last drop of their blood. 
The transition of leadership was marked by a sense of continuity and purpose. The mourners, in their grief, found solace in the knowledge that the principles of resistance, independence, and dignity that defined the late leader’s tenure would remain intact under the new leadership.