Iran is going through what may be one of the largest and most emotionally charged public mourning events in its modern history. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled the country for more than three decades, is being laid to rest in a dayslong state funeral in Tehran and the scenes emerging from it have captured global attention, especially a direct call for the death of U.S. President Donald Trump made from the funeral stage.

How Khamenei Died

On February 28, 2026, 86 year old Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran. The strike marked the opening moment of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, a conflict that continues to shape the region today. Four members of Khamenei’s family his daughter, granddaughter, son in law, and daughter in law were also killed in the same attack.

Iran initially denied the death, but on March 1, state media and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting confirmed it. The government declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday.

Because the position of Deputy Supreme Leader was abolished in 1989, superme leader had no officially designated successor at the time of his death. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was later named the new Supreme Leader, though questions remain about his health, as he has not made many public appearances since taking on the role.

Why the Funeral Was Delayed for Months

Shia Islamic tradition calls for burial within 40 days of death, but late superme leader Khamenei’s funeral was pushed back for months because of the ongoing war. It finally began between July 4 and July 9, 2026, with dayslong ceremonies held across multiple cities in Iran and Iraq. According to Iran’s Health Ministry, between 15 and 20 million people are expected to take part, potentially making it the largest state funeral in the country’s history.

At Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, mourners gathered around the coffins of Khamenei and his family members, beating their chests in grief, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” and calling for revenge.

A Direct Call for Trump’s Death

The most widely reported moment of the funeral came when a poet and performer, Mohammad Rasouli, addressed hundreds of thousands of mourners over loudspeakers and directly called for Trump’s death, asking why “the most bastard man in the world” was still alive. The crowd responded with cheers.

It was reportedly the first time an emcee at the funeral made such a direct call, though banners and graffiti reading “#KillTrump” had already been visible among the crowds throughout the ceremonies.

Speaking around the same time at an event in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore, Trump said the U.S. had inflicted major damage on Iran and claimed Iran was so eager to reach a settlement that the U.S. had given them “a week off for a funeral.

What Happens Next

Alongside the funeral, Iran and the United States are reportedly in talks over a permanent ceasefire. Iran’s chief negotiator has also criticized a joint statement from the UK and France about potentially deploying naval forces to patrol the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas once passed before the war disrupted global energy supplies.

Israel has also reportedly signaled a threat to the life of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, prompting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps to warn of a “decisive and crushing response” to any further attacks.

The situation remains fluid, with tensions across the Middle East still running high.

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