The atmosphere of Khamenei mourning was visible across Iran on Friday as thousands of worshippers gathered in Tehran and other cities for the first Friday prayers since the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The prayers took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and came just days after the start of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel.
Despite continued air raids and missile attacks, large crowds assembled at mosques and public squares, waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of the late leader while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.
The largest gathering took place at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in the capital city of Tehran. Worshippers streamed into the area surrounding the mosque carrying pictures of Khamenei, many dressed in black as a sign of mourning.
Videos shared by Iranian media showed large crowds filling the open spaces around the mosque, spreading prayer mats across the ground as they prepared for the midday prayer service.
In one video, a man speaking through a loudspeaker praised Khamenei and described him as “the embodiment of piety and guardianship in our time.”
People sitting on prayer rugs were seen wiping away tears as they listened. Others raised their hands in prayer, while many chanted slogans condemning what they described as the United States-Israeli war on their country.
The Khamenei mourning ceremonies reflected the deep shock across Iran following the killing of the long-serving supreme leader earlier in the conflict.
Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the attack that killed him during the early stages of the war. His death has become a powerful symbol in Iranian state messaging, with officials framing the conflict as both a national struggle and a moment of religious significance.
Photographs from the prayer gatherings showed men, women and children marching in demonstrations after the prayers concluded.
Some carried large banners condemning the United States and Israel, while others waved national flags. The crowds marched through streets near the mosque chanting slogans and calling for resistance.
Scenes similar to those in Tehran were reported across the country. Footage from the western cities of Ilam and Borujerd showed worshippers gathering in large numbers for prayers and demonstrations.
In the southeastern city of Zahedan, crowds also assembled carrying portraits of Khamenei and Iranian flags.
The gatherings occurred while heavy bombardment continued across Iran.
Waves of air strikes carried out by the United States and Israel targeted sites in Tehran and other major cities during the previous week. The strikes were part of a broader military campaign that officials in Washington described as aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
Reports indicated that recent strikes in Tehran hit a military academy and areas close to key government offices. Some attacks also struck residential buildings, car parks and petrol stations, increasing concerns about civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Iranian authorities said the attacks were among the most intense since the war began.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the bombardment could intensify further. Speaking earlier in the week, he said the campaign was “about to surge dramatically,” indicating that additional military operations could be launched against Iranian targets.
Despite the ongoing strikes, the Khamenei mourning gatherings appeared to demonstrate a show of unity among supporters of the Iranian government. Officials and state media portrayed the large crowds as evidence that the population remained determined to resist foreign military pressure.
The prayers also took place during the third Friday of Ramadan, a period when mosques typically see large numbers of worshippers.
Across the Middle East, the holy month has unfolded under the shadow of the expanding conflict. Military operations linked to the war have disrupted daily life and religious observances in several countries.
While Iran has faced heavy bombardment, Israeli military operations have also expanded beyond Iranian territory. Israeli forces have continued attacks in southern Beirut and other areas of Lebanon where the group Hezbollah operates.
The attacks have forced huge numbers of Lebanese residents to flee their homes. Israeli military authorities issued warnings urging civilians to leave areas they say are used by Hezbollah fighters.
Humanitarian groups warn that the displacement could worsen an already severe humanitarian situation in parts of the country.
At the same time, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region. Missiles and drones have targeted locations in countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. These attacks are widely viewed as retaliation for the presence of US or Israeli military forces in those countries.
The expanding scope of the war has raised fears of a broader regional conflict involving multiple countries across the Middle East. Governments in the Gulf have placed air defence systems on high alert, while international airlines have altered flight paths to avoid the region’s airspace.
Religious tensions have also been heightened by developments in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities cancelled Friday prayers at the Al‑Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The decision was announced by Brigadier General Hisham Ibrahim, who said the measure was taken because of Iranian missile attacks on Israel and the region.
The cancellation drew criticism from Palestinian religious leaders and community figures. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri argued that Israeli authorities frequently impose restrictions on Muslim worshippers at the mosque, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
He described the decision as unjustified and said religious access should not be limited because of regional political tensions.
Read also: Israel pounds Beirut as US warns Iran strikes could surge dramatically
Across Iran, however, the focus on Friday remained the large-scale Khamenei mourning gatherings. For many participants, the prayers represented both an act of religious devotion and a public expression of political solidarity.
Analysts say the death of Khamenei could have a lasting impact on Iran’s political structure and the course of the conflict. As supreme leader for decades, he held ultimate authority over Iran’s political system, military strategy and foreign policy.
His assassination during wartime has added a powerful emotional dimension to the conflict that could influence domestic and regional responses.
For now, the images emerging from Tehran and other Iranian cities highlight the intersection of religion, politics and war.
The Khamenei mourning ceremonies and Friday prayers illustrate how the conflict has moved beyond military confrontation to become a symbolic struggle shaping public sentiment across the region.
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