Khamenei's Coffin Displayed in Tehran as Millions Begin Days-Long Funeral — Mourners Chant for Revenge

Iran is in the middle of one of the largest state funerals in its history — and the mood on the streets of Tehran is a mix of raw grief and open anger aimed directly at the United States and Israel.

Here's the backstory you need: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed on February 28 during U.S.-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war, ending his 36-year rule over Iran. That was four months ago — and only now is his body being publicly laid to rest. The funeral was delayed as the war raged, and U.S.-Iran talks appear to be on hold until it's over.

So what does the scene look like right now? Thousands of people, segregated by gender, have filed into the Grand Mosalla complex to pay their respects to the slain supreme leader, with chants of 'death to America' being heard in the venue. Some carried pictures of Khamenei's face, others flags and banners, while crowds of men rhythmically beat their chests in mourning — a common practice at Shiite funerals. A glass case contained the flag-draped coffins of Ayatollah Khamenei and his family members who were killed in the U.S.-Israeli airstrike.

The emotional temperature is high. His body lay in state at the sprawling Grand Mosalla prayer complex, crowds filed in holding red flags — a symbol of revenge in Shiite Islam — and a eulogist chanted: "We have come not for the funeral but for revenge." One mourner said plainly: "I assure you that we will not let Trump have a good night's sleep from now on unless we get revenge for the blood of our leader."

The scale is massive. Iranian officials say they expect between 15 and 20 million mourners to join the events, which would make it the biggest state funeral in Iran's history. A multi-city state funeral will be held over six days before his body is laid to rest on July 9, in his hometown of Mashhad.

There's a pointed political detail buried in the timing: Iran chose July 4 — the 250th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. — to begin the funeral in Tehran. While authorities did not acknowledge the timing, crowds at the ceremony chanted "Death to America!"

And here's why this matters beyond the images of grief: The funeral could provide a boost for Iran's theocracy and its new supreme leader, Khamenei's son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei — which is important as Iran tries to leverage its hold on the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the U.S. over a permanent end to the war. The Strait of Hormuz, by the way, is the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes — so what happens there affects gas prices globally, including at your pump.

There's also a notable absence: The new supreme leader, Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in any new image since being wounded in the strike that killed his father. The dead included the wife of Mojtaba Khamenei, whose possible appearance at the funeral remained unclear — he reportedly was wounded in the attack and has not been seen publicly since the war began.

Meanwhile, scrawled in chalk along the blast walls separating sections at the venue were slogans against any deal with the U.S. — "No negotiation with Satan" and "Curse be upon he who negotiates." That's a direct shot at Iran's own negotiating team, reflecting internal divisions over whether to talk peace with Washington at all.

Bottom line for you: This funeral isn't just about mourning. It's a political moment Iran is using to project strength, rally its public, and signal to the U.S. that revenge — not peace — is what's on many Iranians' minds right now. Whether that hardens or softens the ongoing negotiations will shape the price of oil, the stability of the region, and the likelihood of this conflict escalating further.