Iran Erupts In Mourning As Qom Sees Massive Crowds After Khamenei’s Death

Millions of mourners dressed in black gathered across the streets of Qom, Iran, as the country continued funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the fourth day of official mourning. Qom, considered one of the most important religious centres in Shia Islam, witnessed large crowds arriving at major shrines and seminaries to pay their respects. The remains of Khamenei, who was killed in late February during the first day of the US-Israeli war against Iran, were kept at the Jamkaran Mosque, where religious ceremonies were held.

A prayer service at the mosque was led by Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, a 93-year-old ayatollah and influential conservative Shia figure. During the gathering, thousands of attendees joined in chants including "death to America" and "death to Israel", slogans commonly heard at official events in Iran. State media broadcasts showed large groups of mourners moving through Qom's streets carrying red and black flags, creating a massive procession that stretched across the city.

Videos from the event showed clerics wearing turbans and ordinary citizens paying tribute at the coffins of Khamenei and four relatives who were killed alongside him. Among those reportedly killed was a granddaughter said to be only 14 months old. The procession later continued with a truck carrying the bodies towards the mausoleum of Fatima Masumeh, the sister of Imam Reza and a revered figure in Shia Islam.

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The funeral ceremonies have been closely managed by Iranian authorities, who have sought to display national unity and stability following the recent conflict and months of internal tensions. The controlled nature of the gatherings contrasted with the funeral of Iran's previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989, when massive crowds caused chaos and a stampede that resulted in deaths and thousands of injuries. Officials have highlighted the current ceremonies as a demonstration of public support and organisational control.

The mourning events have also drawn attention because of the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son and reported successor, who has not appeared publicly since his appointment in early March. Iranian officials have said he was injured in the airstrike that killed his father, though his current condition remains unclear. Further funeral ceremonies are scheduled in neighbouring Iraq, while Khamenei's final burial is expected to take place on Thursday in Mashhad, his hometown and one of Iran's most important religious cities.

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