Iran buries slain leader Khamenei amid mass rallies and vows of 'revenge'

Thousands of mourners converged in Mashhad, Iran, for the burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died at age 86 following an Israeli-American bombing on February 28 that ended his more than three-decade tenure. The funeral marked the culmination of six days of ceremonies that drew millions across Iran and Iraq.

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Everyone here wants revenge.

Amidst sweltering heat, crowds gathered along the avenue leading to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest site in Shia Islam in Iran. Many attendees, dressed in black chadors, waved red flags symbolizing the pursuit of vengeance in Shia Islam. The atmosphere was charged with calls for retribution, with one merchant stating, "Everyone here wants revenge."

The funeral procession was presented by authorities as a demonstration of national strength and unity. Slogans displayed on banners reflected intense animosity towards the US and Israel. One prominent banner proclaimed, "We are going to kill Trump," while another offered a $100 million reward for the US president's death. A sign also depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the phrase "there will be blood."

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We are going to kill Trump

The burial at the Imam Reza shrine complex is the final act of extensive funeral rites held in Tehran, Qom, and Iraq. Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba, was also present. The events underscore the deep-seated tensions and the official narrative of retaliation following the conflict's initiation.

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there will be blood