Thousands of mourners attending the funeral of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were seen throwing stones at a large photograph of US President Donald Trump in a symbolic "Stoning of the Devil" ceremony. Inspired by the stoning ritual performed during the Hajj pilgrimage, the act symbolises the rejection of evil and has long been used in Iran as a display of defiance against perceived enemies, particularly the United States and Israel.
As chants against the US echoed through the crowd, participants repeatedly hurled stones at Trump's portrait, turning what is traditionally a solemn funeral procession into a powerful display of political symbolism. Videos of the ceremony have since circulated widely on social media, drawing international attention.
The anti-Trump messaging extended beyond the stone-pelting ritual. Towering above the mourners was a giant English-language banner that read: "We Will Kill Trump." The multi-metre banner quickly became one of the defining images of the funeral.
According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the banner was carried by participants in the procession for what the outlet described as the "martyred Imam." Images and videos showed it moving through the streets of Tehran alongside portraits of Khamenei, Iranian flags and religious symbols as mourners chanted slogans condemning the United States and Israel.
The funeral itself drew an unprecedented turnout. Tasnim News Agency and state broadcaster Press TV reported that millions of people gathered across Tehran to bid farewell to Khamenei. Press TV quoted Iranian officials as describing it as the largest public gathering in the country's modern history. Coffins carrying Khamenei and members of his family were taken along designated procession routes lined with grieving supporters.
Beyond mourning the country's late leader, the funeral also served as a show of strength by Iran's political and military establishment. Senior government officials, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and representatives of Tehran's regional allies attended the ceremonies, while state media portrayed the massive turnout as a demonstration of national unity despite months of conflict and international pressure.
The hostile messaging came despite recent diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington. The United States and Iran recently signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at creating a framework for further negotiations to end the nearly four-month-long conflict in West Asia.
While the agreement has raised cautious hopes of easing tensions, senior Iranian leaders have maintained that major differences remain. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf recently described implementation of the MoU as "difficult, but possible", underscoring that both sides remain divided on key issues.
Iran's week-long public farewell for Khamenei is now nearing its end in Tehran, with mourners chanting "Death to America", "Death to Israel" and "Kill Trump and Bibi" during funeral prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla.
The ceremony, delayed because of the West Asia war that began on February 28, was attended by vast crowds carrying Iranian flags, portraits of Khamenei and red flags symbolising vengeance. Organisers projected the event as a demonstration of Iran's resilience and determination to defend its independence.
The funeral comes ahead of a mass procession in Tehran before Khamenei's body is taken to Qom, then to two holy cities in Iraq and finally to Mashhad, where he was born in 1939. The farewell has combined mourning with repeated calls for retaliation against the United States and Israel.
During a poetry recital before the funeral prayers, poet Mohammad Rasouli declared: "From now on the shroud is our garment. I swear by your blood; Trump's murder is our responsibility."
He questioned why Trump was still alive and said it would be a disgrace if those responsible for Khamenei's death were not killed. While the remarks drew mixed reactions, most people present responded with loud cheers. Messages displayed near the coffins included one in English reading: "Kill Trump." Throughout the ceremony, mourners repeatedly chanted: "No compromise, no surrender, only revenge."
Iranian leaders attend, Mojtaba absent
The main prayers were led by 97-year-old Ayatollah Ja'far Sobhani of Qom. Prayers were also offered for four members of Khamenei's family, including his daughter-in-law Zahra Haddad Adel and his 14-month-old granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi Golpaygani. The child's small coffin became one of the ceremony's most emotional moments.
Most senior figures from Iran's political, military and judicial establishment attended. Al-Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani and IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi were also present, signalling confidence that the ceasefire with the United States would prevent any attack on the gathering.
However, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed supreme leader 10 days after his father's death, did not attend the ceremony. His absence stood out as his brothers Mustafa, Massoud and Meysam stood beside their father's coffin. Officials said Mojtaba was injured in the attacks but denied reports that he had suffered permanent facial disfigurement or undergone an amputation.
Officials defend Iran's resolve
Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, wrote on X that Khamenei's death would not weaken the country's ideals.
"You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality you broke a bottle of perfume, the fragrance of which has now spread everywhere," he wrote.
National Security Council secretary Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr said mourners were sending two clear messages: resistance against Iran's enemies and revenge for the slain leader.
The prayer hall, said to hold around 30,000 people, was filled before dawn despite temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius. Some mourners wore white burial shrouds, known as kaffan, to demonstrate their willingness to die as martyrs.
Authorities did not release official attendance figures, though unofficial estimates claimed more than two million people attended the opening day of the ceremonies.
Many visitors travelled long distances and stayed in schools, offices, mosques and private homes converted into temporary accommodation. Volunteers distributed food, fruit juice and tea throughout the day.
The Guardian quoted mourner Leila Ahmadi from Boyer-Ahmad as saying, "We will fight the Americans with pitchforks if necessary."
Another attendee, 70-year-old book translator Husain Dehghan, said many Iranians viewed Khamenei with respect despite criticism from the West. He argued that disagreements with the government did not mean people would support foreign intervention.
Another resident, Ibrahim Kalim, who narrowly survived an Israeli bombing, said many Iranians wanted reform but believed it should come from within the country rather than through outside pressure.
