Thousands pay tribute to Iran’s late leader Khamenei amid ongoing war
Thousands of Iranians on Thursday paid tribute to the late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who ruled the country for nearly four decades before he was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war.
Images broadcast on state television showed large crowds gathering across the country, including in Urmia, Gorgan and the capital, Tehran, with many mourners holding portraits of the late leader.
The national homage began at 9:40 a.m. (0610 GMT), the exact time Khamenei was killed on February 28 at his Tehran residence, alongside several senior Iranian officials.
The attack marked the beginning of a wider Middle East conflict, which quickly spread across the region, prompting Iran to retaliate against US interests in the Gulf and carry out strikes on Israel.
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has succeeded him but has not been seen in public since before the war, and was not expected to attend the ceremonies held nationwide.
Due to the ongoing conflict, a state funeral has yet to be conducted for the late leader.
