Tehran After Khamenei's Death: Rallies Of Mourning But Also Dancing In The Streets

TEHRAN — In January 1979, nan Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, near a federation that erupted successful ceremony astatine nan extremity of his rule, ushering successful nan era of nan Islamic Republic nether Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

More than 47 years later, nan decease of Khomeini’s successor, Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, elicited akin scenes of joy, pinch crowds successful immoderate areas openly cheering and dancing successful nan streets to people nan sidesplitting of a leader much feared than loved.

Iranians observe connected Jan. 19, 1979, successful Tehran aft nan departure of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi group nan shape for nan founding of nan Islamic Republic.

(Aristotle Saris / Associated Press)

But nan celebrations successful 1 Tehran vicinity were besides furtive and short lived to debar riot constabulary aliases members of nan Basij, a voluntary auxiliary unit pinch nan Revolutionary Guards. Hundreds of group gathered, shouting and honking horns, and past quickly moved to different neighborhood.

There were reports of akin displays crossed nan capital. But successful agrarian areas — wherever nan Basij and constabulary person little of a beingness — thousands deluged nan streets, chanting and dancing successful jubilation.

Those gatherings contrasted pinch much organized, monolithic rallies that person agelong been nan forte of nan Iran’s authorities. At specified rallies this weekend, Khamenei supporters mourned his death.

In nan hours aft Khamenei was pronounced dormant Saturday, thousands gathered successful main squares crossed nan country, hoisting pictures of nan Supreme Leader, waving Iranian flags and chanting “We sacrifice ourselves for you, O Hussein” — a reference to a martyred Shiite figure. Many openly cried.

Two men connected a motorcycle dressed up pinch a image of nan precocious Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei thrust up a group of authorities supporters adjacent Khamenei’s residency successful Tehran, Iran, connected Sunday.

(Vahid Salemi / Associated Press)

But contempt nan divergent views connected Khamenei, some sides shared a consciousness of uncertainty, pinch fears that Iran was astatine a crossroads, facing fateful questions complete its governmental and economical early and a consciousness that it could easy spell down a vulnerable and chaotic path.

“It’s a mixed feeling. On nan 1 hand, yes, we’re happy astir nan decapitation strikes and Khamenei’s death. But nan surviving officials and commanders aren’t conscionable going to raise their hands and springiness up,” said Hassan, a barber successful Tehran who, for illustration galore interviewed, did not want to beryllium named to debar reprisals.

“They’ll conflict back, and truthful nan illness of nan authorities will return a agelong time, and it won’t beryllium easy,” he said.

Ziba, a 60-year aged discontinue caregiver reached by phone, said she was driving pinch her hubby to capable up state adjacent Tehran’s Arayia Shahr Square astir midnight, correct aft a Basij guidelines adjacent their location was struck, correct erstwhile rumors of Khamenei’s decease were gathering force.

“We started honking to celebrate,” she said. When they went backmost to their apartment, they shouted pinch joyousness from their window.

But they were excessively acrophobic to do more. They unrecorded successful a vicinity pinch a number of high-ranking officials and were worried it would lead to reprisals.

She added that her family was happy, but that they expected nan illness of nan theocracy to return a longer time. And it would impact nan demolition of a batch of nan country’s subject infrastructure, which she considered to beryllium “the country’s assets.”

In nan meantime, she was concerned pinch protecting her family. Both her boy and girl were astatine location aft authorities declared a seven-day nationalist holiday.

“I begged them to not spell extracurricular and to time off nan location pinch america to different area of Tehran,” she said.

“I dream nan authorities will illness quickly. Inshallah [God willing] it will.”

Others were divided wrong nan aforesaid household.

Rahman, an electrical technologist who would shed nary tears for Khamenei, was driving his aged begetter — and avid Khamenei protagonist — to a mosque wherever he would beryllium participating successful a mourning event.

Rahman was hoping that wrong 10 days, protesters would return to nan streets erstwhile much and enforce their will connected nan now-decapitated theocratic regime.

“But nan much realistic business is that U.S. and Israeli strikes will proceed until nan apical officials beryllium for negotiations and judge a woody that keeps them successful power,” he said.

Amir, a 20-year-old barista, wasn’t letting thoughts of nan early ruin his temper now. He had taken portion successful nan protests successful January, and besides successful nan 2022 demonstrations protesting nan decease successful constabulary custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old female accused of violating nan rule forcing women to screen their heads.

“I’m telling you, I’m laughing and happy for nan first clip successful years,” he said.

“I don’t cognize aliases attraction what happens next. All I tin show you is that this authorities has nary genuine devotees, only mercenaries. I dream they springiness up soon.”

Iranian group show successful support of nan U.S. and Israeli strikes connected Iran, successful beforehand of nan Brandenburg Gate successful Berlin, Germany, connected Sunday.

(Ebrahim Noroozi / Associated Press)

For Iranian diaspora communities extracurricular nan state and which are successful ample portion anti-government, Khamenei’s decease sparked unadulterated happiness. In Los Angeles, London and others cities, group showed up successful what were fundamentally thoroughfare parties earlier Iranian negotiated missions.

In nan Middle East, reactions excessively were divided; a reflection of Khamenei’s agelong protector connected nan region. In Syria, Khamenei’s decease was seen arsenic vengeance for his support pinch arms, men and materiel for erstwhile Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was deposed successful December of 2024.

In Lebanon, nan Shiite group Hezbollah held a thousands-strong rally successful nan Beirut suburb wherever it holds sway.

And successful Iraq, a Shiite mostly federation whose heavy ties pinch Iran’s rulers were kickstarted by nan 2003 U.S. invasion, nan authorities declared 3 days of mourning. In nan meantime, hundreds attempted to large wind nan Green Zone, wherever nan U.S. embassy is located, earlier being pushed backmost by constabulary forces.