Khamenei’s Death Triggers Mourning And Celebrations Across Polarised Iran
Iran reacts with grief and celebration after Khamenei’s death in reported U.S.-Israeli attack.
The sudden death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sparked a deeply polarised response across Iran, with some citizens mourning while others celebrated in the streets, highlighting sharp divisions in the country after 36 years of his rule. Iranian state television confirmed Khamenei’s death early Sunday, reporting that he had been killed in what officials described as a U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday.
Footage from Tehran showed large crowds of mourners dressed in black, many weeping as they gathered to pay tribute. At the same time, videos circulating on social media depicted scenes of jubilation elsewhere, with citizens toppling statues and dancing in the streets. Celebrations were reported in Karaj in Alborz province, Izeh in Khuzestan, and Dehloran in Ilam province. In the southern town of Galleh Dar, protesters knocked down a monument of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, with fires burning around the site as onlookers cheered.
Some Iranians took to public spaces to commemorate victims of state crackdowns. In Lapuee, citizens marked the anniversary of Pooya Jafari, a 15-year-old killed during anti-government protests in January, reflecting the broader unrest that has rocked the country in recent years. January’s demonstrations were among the deadliest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with thousands killed in violent crackdowns.
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Reactions among mourners were also deeply emotional. At a rally in Tehran, participants expressed anger towards Israel and the United States, pledging to avenge Khamenei’s death. A teacher in Shiraz, Atousa Mirzade, voiced concern over the potential consequences of foreign involvement, citing the chaos in Iraq as a cautionary example. University student Hossein Dadbakhsh in Mashhad, meanwhile, expressed willingness to defend Iran and vowed that “the Zionist regime and Trump will pay a heavy price” for the killing.
The starkly contrasting responses reflect decades of political unrest in Iran, from student protests in the late 1990s and early 2000s to the 2009 Green Movement and the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” demonstrations. While some citizens see Khamenei’s death as a moment of hope for political change, others fear instability and potential violence, illustrating the complex and deeply divided nature of Iranian society.
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