‘Kill Trump, Kill Netanyahu’ slogans echo at Ali Khamenei funeral as Iran’s Military leadership appear in public
Calls for the killing of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were raised during the funeral prayers of Iran’s former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran. The funeral marked the first public appearance of Iran’s senior political and military leadership after Khamenei’s assassination.
Khamenei’s funeral was held at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla prayer complex. The funeral was the beginning of a week-long series of mourning ceremonies for Iran’s former supreme leader and four members of his family who were killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28.
The event combined religious rituals with political messaging, as crowds carrying Iranian flags, red banners symbolising vengeance and portraits of Khamenei chanted slogans including Death to America and Death to Israel.
During the ceremony, posters and graffiti displayed messages calling for the assassination of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to media reports, poet Mohammad Rasouli, who addressed the gathering before the prayers, called for revenge over Khamenei’s killing, prompting cheers from sections of the crowd. Several mourners also voiced similar sentiments. One attendee said he had come to the funeral to seek revenge following the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader.
Separately, Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, posted on X that while individuals can be killed, their ideals cannot, adding that Khamenei’s legacy would continue.
Among those present in Khamenei funeral were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Revolutionary Guard commander General Ahmad Vahidi and Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani.
According to the report, brothers of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, also attended the funeral. However, Mojtaba Khamenei himself did not appear at the ceremony. Media reports claimed he is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being injured in the airstrike that killed his father.
Authorities have planned funeral processions through Tehran before Khamenei’s body is taken to other cities in Iran and Iraq. He is scheduled to be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9. Officials have imposed traffic restrictions and other security measures as mourning ceremonies continue across the country.
The funeral comes amid continuing tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel following months of conflict.
According to the report, Iran continues to press its position on key regional issues, including control over the Strait of Hormuz, while differences with the United States remain over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security. The report also stated that US-backed maritime operations have continued in the Strait of Hormuz, with commercial shipping moving through the strategic waterway under heightened security.