Mass funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader draws huge crowds in Tehran

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Mourners flooded the capital of Tehran on Monday for a massive funeral procession honoring the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reporting from NBC News correspondent Richard Engel.

The gathering, centered around Azadi Square, drew what organizers described as one of the largest public turnouts in the city since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The event has stretched over several days, with millions reportedly participating in funeral rites and related processions.

While officially a religious ceremony, the gathering also carried strong political undertones. Engel reported that the event functioned as both a memorial and a demonstration of state unity, with large crowds waving government flags and expressing support for Iran’s leadership and military establishment.

Chants heard during the procession included anti-American slogans and calls for revenge, according to on-the-ground reporting. Some participants also directed anger toward U.S. leadership, including references to Donald Trump in connection with the broader regional conflict involving Iran and Israel.

The procession comes amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at ending a prolonged war and stabilizing relations. Iranian officials have described the turnout as a show of strength and national cohesion during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

Engel noted that the funeral processions are expected to continue, with burial arrangements set to take place across multiple locations in Iran and Iraq before the final interment in Mashhad later this week.

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