In brief
A mass funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei passed through Tehran’s Enghelab Square, attracting millions of mourners. The event, which began after the leader’s death in February 2026, was marked by flags and banners symbolising martyrdom and vengeance. BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet reported the procession but footage cannot be used on the BBC’s Persian service due to Iran’s media restrictions. The coverage illustrates how the Iranian state uses public mourning as a political spectacle amid ongoing regional conflict.
Tehran’s streets were filled with millions of mourners as the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei passed through Enghelab Square.
The procession began after the death of Khamenei, reported to have occurred at the start of the war between the United States and Israel in February, 2026. Public displays of mourning included Iranian flags and red banners that symbolised martyrdom and vengeance.
BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet reported on the events, but the BBC’s rules prevent her footage from being used on the Persian service. Similar restrictions apply to all foreign media operating in Iran.
The coverage highlights how the Iranian state seeks to frame the funeral as both a national mourning and a political spectacle. It also reflects the broader context of the current regional conflict.