Tehran: Mohammad Rasouli, a poet performing at the Tehran funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged the crowd to kill US President Donald Trump, drawing loud cheers and chants of “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” from hundreds of thousands gathered on Sunday, according to attendees at the ceremony, AP reported.
Rasouli asked the packed crowd, “Why is the most bastard man in the world still alive?” and his remark was met with enthusiastic applause.
Massive Turnout, Anti-Trump Chants
The second day of funeral rites attracted a much larger turnout than the previous day, with mourners dressed in black streaming to the service carrying flags and banners honoring Khamenei, organizers and witnesses said. Some of those banners amplified the calls for Trump’s killing at a moment when the US president was speaking in Washington to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for decades, was killed at age 86 on Feb. 28 in an airstrike that marked the opening phase of the war with Iran. The funeral was delayed while fighting continued, and its staging now carries clear political weight as Iran navigates succession and the wider conflict.
Support Builds For Mojtaba Khamenei
The large, state-backed mourning crowds are expected to strengthen Iran’s ruling establishment and boost support for Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and new supreme leader, experts said. They added that the emotional mood at the funeral could also increase backing for Tehran’s wartime leadership.
Diplomatic Stakes Rise Amid Funeral Fallout
The timing of the mass ceremonies is significant for diplomacy because Iran is seeking negotiating leverage over a permanent end to the war and control of the Strait of Hormuz is a central bargaining point, diplomatic sources and regional analysts said. At the same time, concerns persist that Israel could mount further strikes, contributing to a tense regional security environment.
Iranian officials have kept formal talks with the United States on hold until active hostilities subside.
