Iranian Citizens Protest Against US and Israel Following Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Mass demonstrations erupted across Iran on Sunday, 1 March, with millions of citizens taking to the streets to condemn the United States and Israel following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a coordinated military strike.
This development has dramatically heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and triggered extraordinary public reactions across major Iranian cities. Citizens regarded the attack as an intolerable act of aggression.
According to local media reports, demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and posters of Khamenei gathered in city centres to voice their grief and anger. In Tehran, the largest concentration of crowds was seen at Inkilab Square, where chants condemning the US and Israel continued to resound.
In the holy city of Qom, citizens assembled at the shrine of Hazrat Masume to protest the attack. Meanwhile, in Mashhad, mourners unfurled black flags over the dome of the Imam Reza shrine as a symbol of national mourning. The shrine is one of Iran’s most revered religious sites, where thousands were seen shedding tears in the surrounding area.
Iran’s state media confirmed that Khamenei lost his life during the combined US-Israeli attack. Authorities stated that “the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution achieved martyrdom” while performing his duties at the presidential office in Tehran on Saturday morning.
The Iranian government firmly denied claims that Khamenei was hiding in an underground bunker during the attack. Officials emphasised that the leader remained amongst the people until the end of his life, reflecting the public leadership role he performed throughout his lifetime.
Reports from Iranian internal sources indicate that the attack also killed several members of Khamenei’s immediate family.
Beyond his immediate family, the military strike resulted in numerous civilian casualties. According to the latest data from the Iranian Red Crescent, 201 people have been killed and 747 others have been injured.
The Iranian government has now declared a 40-day national mourning period and seven-day public holiday as a final tribute to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with all Indonesian representations in the Middle East region, continues to strengthen communication and coordination with Indonesian nationals in areas affected by the situation in the Middle East.