New Delhi: Millions of mourners gathered in Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with an Indian delegation among the foreign representatives in attendance – even as US President Donald Trump drew sharp criticism from Tehran for questioning the scale of the public grief.
The procession began at Islamic Revolution Square in central Tehran, and is moving toward Azadi (Freedom) Square, marking the culmination of two days of funeral prayers attended by senior Iranian leaders, foreign delegations and thousands of mourners. The funeral prayers began on July 4, as part of a six-day mourning period for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that authorities have organised across Iran and Iraq. Monday’s march through the capital is expected to last 10 to 12 hours.
Iranian authorities expect more than 10 million people to participate in the nationwide mourning ceremonies before Khamenei is buried on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. The funeral marks the final stage of a week-long state mourning programme following Khamenei’s death in Israeli and US strikes on February 28.
Trump says US could take out Iran’s leadership ‘in one shot’
The funeral drew international attention after Trump questioned the massive turnout during an interview with Axios. “I thought people hated Khamenei. Maybe it’s fake tears,” Trump said.
He claimed the United States could eliminate Iran’s remaining senior leadership “in one shot” while they were gathered in Tehran. However, he said Washington would not do so because “then we would have nobody to negotiate with.”
Iran condemns Trump’s remarks
Iran strongly condemned Trump’s comments, with the Iranian embassy in Armenia issuing a sharp response on X. The embassy said killing Khamenei could not destroy his ideals and that his legacy would continue despite his death. It also accused the United States of lacking “civilisation, history and honour,” saying Washington had failed to understand the significance of Iran’s national mourning.
Successor Mojtaba Khamenei remains absent
Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader, did not attend the funeral prayers. However, three of Ali Khamenei’s sons – Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud – were present at the ceremony held at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since March. Iranian officials have repeatedly declined to confirm whether he would attend any stage of the funeral, saying any announcement would come from his office.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi joined the prayers. Video from the ceremony showed Masoud Khamenei wiping away tears while standing behind his father’s coffin, which was draped in the Iranian flag and placed alongside the coffins of four family members, including an infant granddaughter.
Iran thanks India for joining funeral ceremonies
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India thanked the government and people of India for participating in the funeral ceremonies. It expressed appreciation to the official Indian delegation that attended on behalf of the Government of India, as well as political leaders, parliamentarians, scholars, intellectuals and representatives of India’s diverse religious communities.
The embassy said their presence reflected the deep historical, cultural and human ties between India and Iran, describing it as a gesture of friendship and solidarity during Iran’s period of national mourning. It added that the Iranian people would remember India’s support as a foundation for strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries.