Tehran says goodbye amidst an atmosphere of anger and mourning to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran who fell dead from US and Israeli bombardments on February 28, an attack that also marked the 40-day war. Already, Iranian media report that the funeral procession of Khamenei's body is underway, a process that is expected to last about 10 to 12 hours. Afterward, Khamenei's body will be transported to the city of Qom where the funeral services will continue. It is noted that the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear publicly at the funeral – unlike his three brothers who were present yesterday, Sunday 5/7, praying next to the coffin of their father and four other members of their family who fell dead from the US-Israeli airstrikes.
The funeral procession is expected to last 10–12 hours
The Iranian Press TV reports that the funeral procession has already started from the Grand Mosalla Mosque of Tehran, where Khamenei's body lay in state for the past two days.
"The organizers estimate that the procession route will last from 10 to 12 hours, following a 10-kilometer route through Damavand Street, Imam Hussein Square, Enqelab Street, Enqelab Square, Azadi Street, Azadi Square, and the Shahid Lashgari highway, located near the Mehrabad airport," the network reported.
? هماکنون؛ ورود خودروی حامل پیکر مطهر رهبر شهید انقلاب و شهدای خانواده ایشان به مسیر تشییع تهران در میان خیل جمعیت مردم عزادار#انتقام_خون_رهبر_شهید pic.twitter.com/3ieSF7eHi1
— خبرگزاری تسنیم (@Tasnimnews_Fa) July 6, 2026
There is no precedent
In his statements, the minister of education of Iran argued that the funeral procession of the "martyr leader of the nation" has no historical precedent. Iranian media report that Tehran is today the stage of a historic moment, as millions of people, with tears and slogans, say goodbye to the "martyr leader" of the Islamic Revolution, sending a message of resilience, unity, and continuation of the path of the "martyrs." 
Already, it is reported that this will be the largest funeral procession that has taken place in Iran and the wider region in modern times. It is estimated that 10 million Iranians are expected to say goodbye to Ali Khamenei.
"Kill Trump"
Images from Khamenei's funeral procession in Tehran show people participating in the funeral ceremonies holding banners with the slogan "Kill Trump". The banner also depicts a bullet piercing the word "Trump."
Others held placards with the images of US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by the slogan: "Blood will flow." The route of the procession has been transformed into a river of flags — Iranian, religious, and others with a more intense political character, such as the flags of Palestine and Hezbollah. 
The hundreds of thousands gathered chanted slogans incessantly, without the Ayatollah's coffin yet being visible more than an hour after the official start time of the procession. Parents pushed strollers with infants, while men, women, and children of all ages had flooded the street.
The red flags
Particular impression is made by the red banners and flags, a powerful Shiite symbol demanding revenge for the blood of the assassinated leader. The red flags, bearing slogans such as "Ya Latharat al-Hussein" ("O avengers of Hussein") and the newly formulated "Ya Latharat al-Khamenei" ("O avengers of Khamenei"), appeared throughout the Grand Mosalla Mosque of Tehran.
The latter phrase connects the mourning for Imam Hussein, grandson of the prophet Muhammad, whose assassination in Karbala in 680 AD lies at the core of Shiite identity and is honored every year as a symbol of resistance against oppression and tyranny. The cry "Ya Latharat al-Hussein" has been used historically to rally Shiite fighters in favor of retribution, and its adaptation to the name of Khamenei marks a direct call for revenge against those who killed him.
The symbolisms
The week of ceremonies for the funeral of the former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is characterized by intense symbolism, aimed at promoting pro-government religious and political messages. From the carefully crafted state rhetoric to the organized public events, a wide range of messages is utilized to cultivate the image of unity among supporters of the Iranian government, which has been in power since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The funeral of Khamenei began with a three-day national mourning in Tehran, before the funeral procession that will cross cities in Iran and Iraq, incorporating intense symbolism that refers both to the life of the former supreme leader and to Shiite Islam in general. Khamenei served as supreme leader from 1989 until his death in a US and Israeli airstrike on February 28. He was succeeded in the leadership of the state by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, in March. The Iranian authorities have placed particular emphasis on characterizing Khamenei as a "martyr" in their official messages, while projecting the view that mourning his death is a national duty.
The official slogan of the ceremonies, "We must rise", appears on banners and images held by mourners in Iran. For the Arabic-speaking and international audience, the authorities have chosen the Arabic equivalent of the phrase "Rise for God". Both expressions are based on a Quranic verse that calls on Muslims to rise in favor of a divine cause.
And in Iraq
From Tehran, Khamenei's body will be transported to the holy city of Qom, where the remaining funeral ceremonies will be held. Afterward, on July 8, it will be transported to the Iraqi city of Najaf and Karbala, while on July 9, Khamenei will be buried in the city of Mashhad, where he was born.
No public appearance by Mojtaba
So far, there has been no public appearance nor has any photograph been released of Mojtaba Khamenei, who was allegedly injured in the attack of February 28. Information reports that Mojtaba Khamenei's face was disfigured by the attack, while he suffered a serious injury to one or both legs. Yesterday, Sunday 5/7, the president of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian and the speaker of parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf prayed behind the coffins.
Netanyahu: With Trump we have a common goal – With or without an agreement, Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons
Netanyahu stated that he and US President Donald Trump have a common strategy toward Iran, emphasizing however that, regardless of whether the Washington-Tehran talks result in an agreement or not, his government will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. In his interview with Fox News on Sunday, July 5, he argued that the two leaders pursue the same goal. "We want Iran to abandon its nuclear program. We want the enriched nuclear material removed and the enrichment facilities dismantled. We have other common goals," he stated.
The Israeli prime minister added that Donald Trump believes that, after the strikes that—according to him—Iran received from the United States and Israel, the conditions now exist so that through diplomacy and negotiations these goals can be achieved. "We respect this approach and I hope it succeeds. But I can tell you this: with an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons," he stressed.
Netanyahu avoided commenting on the progress of the US-Iranian negotiations or the criticism he receives from his supporters, who consider that the framework of the agreement being shaped with Washington leaves the Iranian regime intact and allows it to reconstitute itself. "The negotiations are not completed. I will evaluate them when they are over," he stated, pointing out that differences between allies are discussed directly and without restrictions. At the same time, he confirmed that he is in close communication with Donald Trump and reminded that the two leaders are expected to meet soon in Washington.
Trump is the best friend Israel ever had in the White House
The Israeli prime minister also commented on the statements of US Vice President JD Vance, who had argued that Donald Trump is currently the only global leader who truly supports Israel. Netanyahu disagreed with this phrasing, although he characterized the American president as "the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House."
"We have a very good relationship with JD Vance, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he says. Donald Trump is the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House and I support that absolutely. But we also have other friends," he stated. As a characteristic example, he mentioned India, arguing that the country of 1.4 billion people largely supports Israel.
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