Thousands of Iranians rally in memory of late supreme leader Khamenei

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TEHRAN - Thousands of Iranians paid tribute on April 9 to the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who ruled the country for nearly four decades until his killing in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February 2026.

His son Mojtaba Khamenei has succeeded him, but he has not been seen in public since before the war, and it appeared unlikely that he would be present at ceremonies being held across Iran on April 9.

Images broadcast on state television showed thousands of people taking part in rallies, many holding portraits of the late revolutionary, including in Urmia in north-western Iran, Gorgan in the north-east, and the capital Tehran.

The national homage began at 9.40am local time, the time at which Ali Khamenei was killed on Feb 28 at his Tehran residence, alongside numerous senior Iranian figures.

The attack marked the start of the war that rapidly spread across the Middle East, with Iran retaliating against US interests in the Gulf and striking Israel.

Owing to the war, a state funeral has yet to take place for the late leader. AFP