Iran promotes message of continuity and revenge at Khamenei commemoration | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps News

Tehran, Iran – Massive-scale public commemorations for former Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have commenced within the capital, with authorities selling a message of continuity for the Islamic Republic and vengeance for his killing.

Khamenei, 86, was focused in an airstrike at the beginning of the struggle with america and Israel on February 28, after ruling Iran with absolute energy for almost 37 years.

Crimson flags, generally related to martyrdom but in addition considered as a logo of revenge in Shia Islam, have been seen all through the Grand Mosalla commemoration website in Tehran and different mass gatherings.

“We should rise,” was the official slogan used for the ceremonies, accompanied by a picture of Khamenei’s clenched fist on a pink and black background.

Hundreds gathered inside the massive non secular complicated used for the funeral from the early hours of Saturday morning to pay their respects to the assassinated supreme chief.

Khamenei’s coffin, carried to the funeral website by a lorry, was displayed on the centre of the stage and draped in flags. Positioned on an elevated platform within the central court docket, surrounded by glass and guarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel, authorities have been able to take care of crowds trying to succeed in his coffin.

Visiting women and men have been separated by a big barrier to look at Islamic values. Non secular chanting and slogans blasted from loudspeakers across the complicated.

Movies circulated by state media confirmed crowds chanting “Loss of life to America” and “Loss of life to Israel” at quite a few metro stations.

“We’re all right here to hunt blood vengeance for our chief,” Fatemeh, a 55-year-old girl travelling in a bunch of ladies clad in black chadors, informed Al Jazeera whereas ready to enter by way of a northern gate of the complicated.

“We are going to all hearken to his son. He’ll information the revolution ahead,” she stated, in reference to Mojtaba Khamenei, who was shortly chosen as supreme chief by a clerical physique in March following his father’s killing.

Tight safety

A heavy safety presence continues within the capital, with armoured automobiles, heavy machine weapons and snipers seen all through the areas surrounding the farewell ceremonies.

Males have been physique searched as they entered the Mosalla, whereas digital gadgets – similar to energy banks, earphones and lighters – have been confiscated from the mourners by safety.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since he took workplace, won’t attend the funeral because of safety considerations.

State-affiliated newspapers and tv reported that the supreme chief’s killing had rallied supporters of the Islamic Republic authorities, which has been in energy because the 1979 revolution overthrew Iran’s final shah, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.

Authorities expect comparable large numbers as attended the 1989 funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the Islamic Republic. At the very least eight mourners died within the crowds, forcing the army to evacuate his physique by helicopter.

Hundreds of “mokebs”, or non permanent non secular service stations, have been arrange throughout Tehran, blasting out Islamic Shia chants and rhythmic eulogies to Khamenei.

Some volunteers handed out flags, banners and pictures to the group. As temperatures rose to 36 levels Celsius (97 levels Fahrenheit), different mokebs have been geared up with large cooling followers and volunteers distributed free drinks to the hundreds of mourners.

Emergency companies have been stationed throughout the realm to help with any well being issues as a result of crowds or the warmth, however to date authorities have reported no safety incidents or medical emergencies.

Massive elements of Tehran have been cordoned off with boundaries and non-official automobiles are barred from getting into or exiting.

The entire of Iran has been successfully shut down till the tip of Monday, in an obvious effort to encourage public participation, with 10 million Iranians anticipated to participate within the proceedings throughout the nation.

Funeral procession

Khamenei’s stays are anticipated to be moved by way of Tehran throughout the funeral procession on Monday. It’s then anticipated to go by way of a few of Shia’s holiest websites, together with Qom, Najaf and Karbala, earlier than burial in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.

Some Iranians have used the general public vacation to flee the crowds and the warmth of Tehran for the cooler northern provinces by the Caspian Sea, as they commonly do on multi-day public occasions within the capital. Lengthy traces of site visitors have been seen on the Tehran-Shomal Freeway resulting in the provinces, with travellers caught for hours in jams.

IRGC commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi, who made his first look because the begin of the struggle, informed state TV throughout an occasion on Friday to grieve Khamenei in order that “enemies will take their want for our give up to the grave”.

“The enemies should know that the pure blood of our martyred imam was one other turning level within the victories of pricey Islam in opposition to the worldwide infidel entrance,” he stated.

IRGC aerospace chief Majid Mousavi, answerable for launching ballistic missiles and drones throughout the area throughout the struggle, additionally made a public look.

The central headquarters of armed forces issued an announcement to warn in opposition to any army motion throughout the ceremonies, after Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, stated Mojtaba Khamenei was “marked for death”.

Representatives from dozens of nations have been in Tehran on Friday to pay their respects to Khamenei and communicate with Iranian officers throughout televised state ceremonies.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate talks between Iran and the US, was among the many most senior officers current. Different international locations despatched lower-level dignitaries, whereas European international locations have been reportedly not invited.

Among the many most outstanding attendees on Friday have been members of the IRGC-backed “Axis of Resistance”, together with members of Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Hezbollah delegation included members of Hassan Nasrallah’s household, the long-time head of the armed group killed by Israel in 2024, and kinfolk of Imad Mughniyeh, the commander killed by a automobile bomb in Syria in 2008.