Iran Hoists Red Flag, Signalling Retaliation Against US and Israel

A red flag was hoisted above the dome of the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom on Sunday, 1 March 2026, in a gesture symbolising retaliation. Iran raised the flag following the death of their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a combined attack by Israel and the United States.

The flag was raised during Khamenei’s funeral procession. In a post by the Jamkaran Mosque’s official account on Sunday, 1 March 2026, photographs showed Khamenei’s image being carried to his final resting place.

The hoisting of the red flag marked Iran’s response to the death of the Shia Marja.

“The hoisting of the ‘Ya Lazarat al-Hussein’ flag above the sacred threshold of the Jamkaran Mosque in seeking blood and retaliation against American and Zionist criminals,” the post stated.

News of Khamenei’s death was first announced by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, 28 February. He stated that Khamenei was killed in an Israeli and American attack on Iran.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” Trump said on his Truth Social media network.

On Sunday, 1 March, Iran confirmed the death of Ali Khamenei as a result of the attack. The Iranian government also declared a 40-day period of national mourning.

According to reports, in addition to Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were also killed. Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh were also reported to have died.