2 crore people, 45 countries… The biggest funeral of the century in Iran, crowd gathered in Khamenei’s last journey.
Tehran. The multi-day funeral procession for Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli air strikes, officially began on Saturday. It is noteworthy that 86-year-old Khamenei was killed in a massive air attack during the beginning of the Iran war in February.
Last glimpse at ‘Grand Mosalla’
The body of the late leader has been kept in the ‘Grand Mosalla’ in the country’s capital Tehran for the last glimpse of the general public and supporters. Vehicular movement on the streets of Tehran remained completely closed since early Saturday. Lakhs of mourners wearing black clothes were seen moving towards ‘Grand Mosalla’ on foot.
A huge crowd of mourners gathered
Large hoardings and banners with Khamenei’s pictures have been put up across the city. Huge crowds of men on the streets are mourning by beating their chests rhythmically as part of the Shia community’s traditional farewell. Hananeh Mousavi, 27, who had come to attend the funeral, expressed her emotions through tears. “I have come here to bid farewell to my beloved leader Ali Khamenei. I never thought that I would see such a day. I wish I had died before this tragedy.”
Memories of historical events of 1989 fresh
An open stage has been prepared for the last rites in the ‘Grand Mosallah’, from where Khamenei once used to address the nation from his compound ‘Husseiniya’ located in the heart of Tehran. The compound was completely destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on 28 February, killing Khamenei and some of his family members.
The Iranian government estimates that millions of people will take to the streets of the capital in this final farewell, which is reminiscent of the historic scene of the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. “We attended the funeral to show that we are all committed to defending our country and religion,” said Ali Kazmi, a civilian from Tabriz city.
Strait of Hormuz and geopolitical equation
The huge participation of people in this mega-event is working to boost the morale of the Iranian government at a time when it is at the negotiating table with the US to end the war permanently. In this conversation, Iran is trying to take advantage of its strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz. However, in the meantime the fear of another attack by Israel also remains constant.
Selection of time and slogans of ‘Down with America’
Iran has chosen July 4 to launch this program, which is also America’s founding day (250th anniversary). Although officials have not commented, the crowd in Tehran repeatedly chanted “Down with America”, a common slogan there since the 1979 Islamic revolution and the US embassy hostage crisis.
US President Donald Trump’s tough stance
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump made a big statement regarding Iran during an event organized in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. President Trump said, “We have badly damaged Iran. They are very desperate to make a deal. We have given them a week’s time for the last rites.”
Comments are closed.