Thousands of Iranians flocked at dawn on Saturday to Tehran's Grand Musalla to bid farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, chanting 'revenge' for the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli raids last February.

Many raised red banners symbolizing vengeance, inscribed with 'Martyr,' while others held signs reading 'Revenge' in Persian and English, in addition to Iranian flags and images of the late leader and his son Mojtaba, who hasn't appeared in public since the U.S.-Israeli war began on February 28.

Signs calling for the 'killing' of U.S. President Donald Trump were also displayed.

Amid a crowd sobbing, a participant at the national memorial cried, 'We are not here for the funeral, but for revenge.'

'We Will Avenge Our Leader's Blood'

Meanwhile, student Hamid Reza Shabani said, 'We must rise, and with God's permission, we will avenge our leader's blood.'

With the funeral proceedings expected to last six days and include stops in Iraq, the black color dominated the participants' attire among men, women, and children, many of whom only knew Khamenei Sr. as the country's leader since he became Supreme Leader, succeeding Imam Khomeini in 1989.

Javad Akbari, an employee at a food factory, told AFP, 'I never had the chance to see the leader up close, and it saddens me. Today I came for the final goodbye.'

Khamenei's coffin and family members killed with him in the attack targeting his residence on the first day of the war, were laid out on a raised platform in the outdoor yard of the Musalla. The platform resembled the one from which the leader often appeared before crowds from the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in the complex where he resided.

Khamenei's Funeral (AFP).

Two rows of Iranian flags surrounded the coffins, while large images of Khamenei at various stages of his life, some during his visits to soldiers on the front lines during the Iraq War (1980-1988), were raised on the walls and fences of the Musalla.

Khamenei was elected Supreme Leader after a distinguished career as one of the revolution's leaders and President of the nascent Republic during its toughest test, the war with Iraq.

Reza, a university professor, said he came to bid farewell to Khamenei, who died at the age of 86, 'because we promised the Supreme Leader to stay with him until the end.'

Funeral follows weeks of negotiation with the US

Qur'anic recitations and religious and national hymns added an emotional tone to the farewell ceremony, with many participants sitting silently on the ground in reverence.

Many participants were striking their chests in mourning. Some chanted 'Death to America, Death to Israel!'—slogans commonly raised during official ceremonies in the Islamic Republic.

In expected high temperatures exceeding 35 °C on Saturday, authorities equipped the area with devices periodically spraying water mist over participants at the funeral.

The funeral follows about two weeks after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the Middle East war, paving the way for negotiations toward a final deal between the two countries.

The funeral, the largest in Iran since Khomeini's farewell in 1989, comes at a pivotal stage for the Islamic Republic's leadership, eager to project an image of unity and solid popular base after facing harsh challenges, including the twelve-day war with Israel in 2025, the U.S.-Israeli war this year, and popular protests early in 2026.

Central Tehran turned into a fortified military-like camp on Saturday, with all streets leading to the Musalla closed off for about two kilometers with concrete barriers and police vehicles.

Authorities expect between 15 to 20 million people to participate in the ceremony in Tehran alone. The proceedings will last for six days and include stops in Iraq before the body is laid to rest in Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

Khamenei's body will remain at the Musalla until Monday when it will be escorted through the capital's streets in a funeral procession, then moved to the holy city of Qom south of Tehran, before heading to Iraq to visit the Alawi and Husayni shrines on July 8.