Iran entered a second day of massive public processions on Thursday as the country continues to mourn Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died earlier this week at age 85 after more than three decades in power. State media reported that millions of people poured into the streets of Tehran and other major cities despite a punishing heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital.
The funeral ceremonies, which began Wednesday, are part of a five-day national mourning period declared by the government. Thursday’s main procession moved through central Tehran, passing landmarks such as Enghelab (Revolution) Square and Azadi (Freedom) Square, before heading toward the Mosalla prayer grounds where a formal prayer service was led by senior officials. Similar gatherings took place in Mashhad, Qom, Isfahan, and other provincial capitals. State television showed dense crowds stretching for kilometers, many carrying portraits of Khamenei, black flags, and banners praising the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assumed the role of Supreme Leader in June 1989 following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. As the highest-ranking political and religious authority in Iran, Khamenei held final say over all matters of state, including foreign policy, nuclear negotiations, and command of the armed forces, notably the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His tenure spanned the Iran-Iraq war’s aftermath, the development of Iran’s nuclear program, multiple rounds of international sanctions, and widespread domestic protests, most recently in 2022–2023 following the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of senior clerics elected by the public. The Assembly convened in emergency session this week to begin the selection process. While the proceedings are opaque, analysts suggest the leading candidates include hardline figures close to the IRGC and the current president, Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in July 2024. The next leader will inherit a state facing severe economic strain — inflation near 40%, a currency that has lost over 90% of its value since 2018 — and escalating regional tensions involving Israel, the U.S., and proxy networks across the Middle East.
The transition matters globally because the Supreme Leader controls Iran’s nuclear doctrine, its support for allied militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, and its strategic posture toward the West. Any shift in leadership could alter the trajectory of indirect nuclear talks, regional de-escalation efforts, or the enforcement of mandatory hijab laws domestically. For ordinary Iranians, the succession may signal whether the state doubles down on repression or opens space for the limited reforms Pezeshkian campaigned on. For now, the heatwave has not deterred the crowds — but the real test comes after the mourning ends.
Image: Photo: Sahil prajapati · Pexels
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera.
Cookies & Privacy: This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read more.
