Iranians Take to Streets on 40th Day of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death

Tehran: Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire amid a fierce conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, an unprecedented mass gathering took place on Thursday in hundreds of cities across the country, including the Iranian capital, Tehran. This mark the 40 days since the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Did huge crowd gather on the streets?

According to media reports, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended a massive memorial ceremony held in Tehran's Republic Square. 

A massive march began from there, leading to the site where the former Supreme Leader was killed in US-Israeli attacks. People across the country are mourning, chanting slogans, and pledging loyalty to their Supreme Leader's ideals. These massive mourning rallies began on Thursday morning.

What happen on February 28 and how many people were killed?

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of military strikes launched by the US and Israel, which also killed members of his family. 

Several top military commanders, including Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, were killed in these attacks. 

The most tragic incident was the attack on a primary school in Minab, where more than 170 civilians, most of them young children, were killed. These attacks also caused significant damage to civilian and energy infrastructure.

What about the 14-day ceasefire?

Following these attacks, the Iranian military retaliated by launching a rapid  missiles and drones against Israeli-occupied territories and US bases.

Following this intense military confrontation, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) confirmed on Wednesday that a 14-day ceasefire brokered by Pakistan had come into effect. Iran says the peace agreement was reached after the US accepted Tehran's 10-point proposal.

Does Khamenei's thinking remains powerful even after death?

Amid this ceasefire, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a major statement. The IRGC said that Ayatollah Khamenei's death has been as influential in promoting the Islamic Revolution as his lifetime presence. The army has clarified that the late leader's vision of resistance, freedom, and justice continues to provide a strong foundation for the country's governance.