Photos: Thousands of Iranians turn out to mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran
#Ayatollah Ali Khamenei #Iran #Tehran #Death #Mourning #Protest #US #Israel #Strike #Operation Epic Fury #Enghelab Square
📌 Key Takeaways
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead by Iranian state media on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
- Thousands of Iranians gathered in Enghelab Square, Tehran to mourn him.
- The death followed a joint US-Israel military attack, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” which targeted locations including Khamenei’s compound.
- Most attendees were civilians expressing grief and respect.
- Regime opponents largely stayed off the streets, unlike during previous protests in January.
- President Donald Trump commented on the event, stating it was "justice for the people of Iran" and that 'most' of Iran’s senior leadership is 'gone'.
📖 Full Retelling
Thousands of Iranians gathered in Enghelab Square, Tehran, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, to mourn the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was confirmed dead by Iranian state media following a deadly wave of strikes launched by the United States and Israel. The protests, largely attended by civilians, saw people expressing grief, holding images of the late leader, and chanting. Opponents of the regime largely remained off the streets, unlike in previous protests in January. The strikes, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted locations including Khamenei’s compound.
🏷️ Themes
Mourning, Politics, International Relations, Conflict, Iranian Politics, Geopolitics
📚 Related People & Topics
Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. His tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years, makes him the longest-serving head of...
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Original Source
A mourner cries at Enghelab Square in Tehran on Sunday. Majid Saeedi / Getty Images Middle East Photos: Thousands of Iranians turn out to mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran Thousands gathered in Enghelab Square and to pay tribute to the late ayatollah, who was confirmed dead by state media on Sunday. Share Add NBC News to Google March 1, 2026, 5:42 AM EST By Max Butterworth Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 For many Iranians, the day began with the news they had feared. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead by Iranian state media on Sunday following a deadly wave of strikes launched by the United States and Israel. Thousands gathered to pay their respects in Enghelab Square as the warm glow of the Sunday morning sun shone across the Iranian capital. Men were seen hugging and crying, resting against shuttered storefronts, unable to contain their grief. Civilians marched toward the square as veiled women raised images of the supreme leader aloft and chanting in groups, while others simply sat by the roadside, paying their respects from a distance. Opponents of the regime, who turned out in their thousands for protests that faced a brutal crackdown in January , largely stayed off the streets on Sunday. On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a joint military attack on Iran dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” striking many targets, including the supreme leader’s compound in Tehran. President Donald Trump called the killing of Khamenei “justice for the people of Iran” in a post on Truth Social, telling NBC News in an earlier interview that “most” of Iran’s senior leadership is “gone.” Share Add NBC News to Google Max Butterworth Max Butterworth is the Deputy Photo Director for NBC News in London.
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