Iranians call for revenge against US, Israel at Khamenei commemoration

TEHRAN (Web Desk) – Large-scale public commemorations for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have commenced in the capital, with authorities promoting a message of continuity for the Islamic Republic and vengeance for his killing._x000D_
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Khamenei, 86, was targeted in an airstrike at the start of the war with the United States and Israel on February 28, after ruling Iran with absolute power for nearly 37 years._x000D_
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Red flags, commonly associated with martyrdom but also viewed as a symbol of revenge in Shia Islam, were seen throughout the Grand Mosalla commemoration site in Tehran and other mass gatherings._x000D_
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“We must rise,” was the official slogan used for the ceremonies, accompanied by an image of Khamenei’s clenched fist on a red and black background._x000D_
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Thousands gathered inside the huge religious complex used for the funeral from the early hours of Saturday morning to pay their respects to the assassinated supreme leader._x000D_
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Khamenei’s coffin, carried to the funeral site by a lorry, was displayed at the centre of the stage and draped in flags. Positioned on an elevated platform in the central court, surrounded by glass and guarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel, authorities were ready to deal with crowds attempting to reach his coffin._x000D_
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Visiting men and women were separated by a large barrier to observe Islamic values. Religious chanting and slogans blasted from loudspeakers around the complex._x000D_
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Videos circulated by state media showed crowds chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” at a number of metro stations. “We are all here to seek blood vengeance for our leader,” Fatemeh, a 55-year-old woman travelling in a group of women clad in black chadors, told Al Jazeera while waiting to enter through a northern gate of the complex._x000D_
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“We will all listen to his son. He will guide the revolution forward,” she said, in reference to Mojtaba Khamenei, who was quickly selected as supreme leader by a clerical body in March following his father’s killing._x000D_
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AROUND 15 MILLION EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN FUNERAL CEREMONIES_x000D_
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Around 15 million people are expected to take part in funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme_x000D_
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the next several days, the Iranian Health Ministry has said, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency._x000D_
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“Our estimate is that over the next two to three days, around 15 million people will participate in the farewell and funeral ceremonies,” the ministry said, according to Tasnim. It did not share how this figure was calculated._x000D_
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Preparations surrounding the funeral have been underway for a month, the ministry said, adding that temporary hospitals have been set up near the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, where the coffins of Khamenei and several members of his family are laid out._x000D_
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Medical teams are on “full standby,” the ministry said, reported by Tasnim. The provinces of Qom in north-central Iran and Mashad in the north-east of the country are also planning on hosting funeral ceremonies, it added._x000D_
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IRGC NAVY VOWS ‘DIVINE REVENGE’ AGAINST US AND ISRAEL_x000D_
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it “pledged with God” to continue following the ideals of its “martyrs” and what it described as the path of the “martyred leader of the nation,” in a statement posted on X on Saturday._x000D_
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“We of the IRGC Navy and the Guardians of the Strategic Strait of Hormuz pledge to our God that, by following the ideals of the martyr-saints, we will powerfully continue the path of the martyred Leader of the Community, and we hold firm hope that divine vengeance against terrorist America and the illegitimate Zionist regime is not far off, and the banner of truth will remain raised by His righteous successor,” the post said.