Khamenei's Funeral: Red Flags and Calls for Revenge in Tehran

The funeral procession and burial of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which began on 3 July, was marked by a sea of red flags waved by mourners at various ceremonial locations. The presence of this symbol underscored both a profound sense of mourning and heightened political tension. In Shia tradition, the red flag carries powerful symbolism as a representation of unjustly spilled blood. Its display serves as an open call for vengeance against those deemed responsible for a death. At Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, mourners carried banners and red flags emblazoned with various slogans of resistance. Among them were ‘Ya Latharat al-Hussein’ (O avenger of Hussein) and a new slogan, ‘Ya Latharat al-Khamenei’ (O avenger of Khamenei). These expressions are rooted in Shia history, commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. This historic event is commemorated annually as a symbol of the struggle against oppression and tyranny. Historically, the cry ‘Ya Latharat al-Hussein’ has been used to rally the spirit of seeking justice for spilled blood. In the context of this funeral, the slogan evolved into ‘Ya Latharat al-Khamenei’, interpreted as a collective call to avenge the death of Iran’s former supreme leader. Alongside the red flags, mourners also carried Iranian national flags and yellow banners associated with Hezbollah. Millions were estimated to have attended the funeral prayers and procession for Ali Khamenei and four of his family members, who were killed in a US and Israeli attack on his residence on 28 February. During the procession, the presence of the immediate family drew attention, with only three of Khamenei’s sons—Masoud, Meysam, and Mostafa—seen representing the family in the final tributes to their father under tight security. As the funeral procession took place, US President Donald Trump made provocative remarks about the situation in Iran. He claimed he had the military capability to strike while Iran’s leaders were gathered but chose restraint. ‘They were all there. One shot, we could have taken them all out. But we won’t do that because then we’d have no one left to negotiate with,’ Trump was quoted as saying. Indonesia’s Ambassador to Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat, represented the Indonesian government at the final tribute ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader was projected to be a show of force against the US and Israel. A number of international leaders and delegations arrived in Tehran to attend the series of ceremonies, which lasted until 9 July. The procession was also attended by figures from anti-war and anti-hegemony movements from several European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Australia.