Mourners at Iranian funeral call for revenge against U.S. president

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tehran on Sunday for funeral ceremonies honoring the assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader and members of his family. The event took place at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque. Attendees included senior Iranian officials such as the president, parliament speaker, Quds Force leader, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander.

Calls for retaliation A poet serving as master of ceremonies asked over loudspeakers why the U.S. president remained alive and stated the world was no longer a good place for him, drawing cheers from the crowd. Other attendees told the Associated Press they sought revenge.

A 29-year-old grocery store worker said they came to shout for retaliation and that the leader responsible for the death should be killed.

Background on threats U.S. intelligence has warned of Iranian assassination attempts against the U.S. president since 2020. The president has made public comments about Iran's military losses and the funeral gathering. The funeral marked the second public appearance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander since the conflict began and the first appearance of three of the late leader's sons.