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Trump reacts to massive crowds crying at Khamenei's funeral (Img: Agencies)
Washington: US President Donald Trump has expressed surprise over the massive public turnout at the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he did not expect such widespread mourning following the veteran leader's death.
Speaking to Axios, Trump said he was taken aback after seeing visuals of hundreds of thousands of mourners gathering in Tehran. "I was shocked. I thought people hated him," Trump said, reacting to the scenes from the Iranian capital.
Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei began on Saturday in Tehran, with huge crowds carrying his portraits, waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans, including "Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!" Many mourners also participated in traditional Shiite mourning rituals by rhythmically beating their chests.
The large turnout is being viewed as a significant show of public support for the late leader, who headed Iran for more than three decades.
Khamenei, who served as Iran's Supreme Leader from 1989 until his death at the age of 86, was killed along with several members of his family and senior officials in an Israeli airstrike on the opening day of the Iran-Israel conflict on February 28.
According to reports, his coffin will remain in Tehran for three days before being taken to the holy city of Qom on July 7. A procession is also planned in neighbouring Iraq before his burial in his hometown of Mashhad.
Reports indicate that Iran's current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend the funeral ceremonies due to security concerns and fears of possible Israeli threats.
The funeral is being closely watched globally as Iran navigates heightened regional tensions and diplomatic negotiations following the conflict, with the unprecedented turnout expected to carry both political and symbolic significance.
