Massive crowds of Iranian worshippers filled the streets of Tehran and several other major hubs to observe the first Friday prayers since the outbreak of the US-led war. Holding portraits of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, citizens combined religious observations with anti-war demonstrations. As Iranians mourn Khamenei, the public display of grief occurred directly beneath the shadow of ongoing military operations targeting the capital.The highly volatile gatherings coincided with the holy month of Ramadan across the country.
Footage broadcasted by regional networks showed waves of residents streaming into the expansive outdoor perimeter of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque. Loudspeakers echoed with elegies dedicated to the late leader, causing many congregants seated on traditional prayer rugs to weep openly. Following the midday prayer sequence, the gathering quickly transitioned into a major state-supported demonstration against western military infrastructure.
Similar expressions of public grief and structural defiance were reported by news agencies in western towns like Ilam and Borujerd, alongside Zahedan in the southeast. The mass mobilization took place immediately after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the current bombardment campaign was set to expand significantly. The high-altitude strikes had previously claimed the life of the supreme leader at a highly secure political compound on Saturday.
According to technical field reports, recent airstrikes inside the capital hit a specialized military academy and logistical infrastructure near a strategic central avenue. Residential apartments, public parking facilities, and fuel stations also sustained extensive structural damage from the incoming ordinance. Despite the active threat network, the high turnout signals an attempt by local administrative structures to project national unity during an unprecedented crisis.
