Mourners Weep and Beat Chests in Tehran Square, Vowing "Blood Revenge"

[Anchor]

The funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, began today, July 4, in Tehran. With the event coinciding with the United States' Independence Day, some are interpreting it as a message directed at the U.S., though it is widely seen as an effort to demonstrate to the world that the regime remains intact.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the story.

[Reporter]

Crowds of mourners have packed the square in the capital city of Tehran.

They are expressing their profound grief, weeping and beating their chests.

The funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died in a targeted Israeli airstrike, began today for a six-day period.

This comes 126 days after his death.

Khamenei's casket was placed on a podium alongside those of his family members who also perished in the strike, and large portraits of him were displayed throughout the area.

Banners bearing hardline slogans such as "Death to Trump" and "Blood Revenge" were also visible.

[Arashi Rahimi / Mourner: We have all come here for 'blood revenge' for our leader. America is our enemy.]

Before the caskets were moved to the square, Iranian leadership and foreign delegations paid their respects.

Vahidi, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a key figure among Iran's hardline military, made his first public appearance since the war began.

[Ahmad Vahidi / Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: We will not surrender, and we will exact the price for the blood of the martyrs.]

However, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son who succeeded him as Supreme Leader, did not appear this time either.

While there has been persistent speculation regarding serious injuries or threats of assassination by Israel, the exact reason for his absence remains unconfirmed.

Iranian authorities are maintaining the highest level of security, controlling roads and airspace, and have deployed water misting systems and water supply vehicles to the square to prepare for the extreme heat.

With up to 20 million people expected to gather during the funeral period, Iran appears to be using the event as a stage to solidify regime unity following the war and to demonstrate its resilience to the international community.

Reported by Gwak Sang-eun | Video by Kim Ho-jin | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.