Heart-wrenching scenes are unfolding in Tehran during the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israel air strike. The compound of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where Khamenei’s body was placed, has turned into a sea of grief with lakhs of people thronging the venue. Amid this vast gathering, one particular sight has left everyone deeply moved and shattered the hearts of the Iranian people, now becoming a subject of discussion internationally.
Placed right beside Khamenei’s coffin was a small coffin weighing around 10 kilograms. It did not belong to any soldier or political leader — it belonged to Khamenei’s 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani. The infant, who knew nothing of what war or enmity meant, fell victim to the brutal attack. Thousands of people gathered there broke down in tears at the sight of the child’s coffin. At the same time, the crowd began chanting loudly against the United States, raising slogans demanding “Enghelab” (revenge/retribution).
Five Coffins From a Single Family
According to Iranian media reports, Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family, died in the joint US-Israel air strikes carried out on February 28. Beside the coffin of little Zahra, draped in the Iranian national flag, a beautiful photograph of her was placed. Everyone who came to pay their respects broke down upon seeing the photograph as they moved forward. The entire venue was plunged into deep sorrow as the coffins of Zahra, Khamenei’s son-in-law, his eldest daughter, and the wife of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei were all placed side by side.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who attended the mourning ceremony, was overcome with emotion and broke down in tears. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, senior military officials, and representatives from countries around the world arrived to pay tribute to the late leader. As per Iranian tradition, the funeral proceedings will continue over several days. The body will be kept for public viewing in Tehran and Qom from July 5 to 7, after which it will be laid to rest in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Mourning on One Side, Celebrations in America on the Other
International news agency Al Jazeera reported that the crowds gathered in Tehran were not just mourning but also venting intense anger against the United States. Thousands of young people and citizens who came to pay their respects reverberated the venue with retaliatory slogans of “Death to America.” Notably, even as Iran remains submerged in such grief, the United States is grandly celebrating its 250th Independence Day. It is also notable that Donald Trump has been publicly touting the strike on Iran as one of his greatest achievements.