WANA (Mar 01) – Following the announcement of the assassination of Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, cities across the country witnessed a sweeping wave of public gatherings beginning early Sunday morning. The rallies began spontaneously and quickly spread to major squares, religious sites, and urban centers throughout Iran.

 

The incident followed an attack by Israel and the United States that resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The news immediately pushed Iran’s political and social climate into a highly tense phase.

 

In the capital, thousands gathered in the early hours of the morning in front of the University of Tehran before marching toward Enghelab Square. Published images show crowds filling the streets, carrying black flags, Iranian flags, portraits of the Supreme Leader, and copies of the Quran.

 

Among the repeatedly chanted slogans, the most prominent were:

“We fight, we die, we will not accept compromise.”

“We are followers of the Leader; we will not overlook his blood.”

“No compromise, no surrender — battle with America.”

“Revenge, revenge.”

“Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

 

The slogan “No compromise, no surrender” emerged as one of the central themes of the gatherings — a phrase interpreted by participants as a political demand rejecting any negotiation or retreat.

 

Reports indicate that the rallies are not limited to the capital but are taking place in all provincial centers and many cities, large and small. In Isfahan, thousands gathered at Imam Khomeini Square. In Qom, the main assembly formed at the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh, where a black flag was raised above its dome. In Mashhad, ceremonies began in the early hours at the Imam Reza Shrine, drawing large crowds.

 

In Tabriz, people were reported to be moving toward Mosalla of Imam Khomeini. Cities such as Shiraz, Ahvaz, Zahedan, Gorgan, and others have also witnessed similar marches. In many of these locations, shops have closed, and mourning flags have been displayed.

People gather to mourn after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The Iranian government declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of nationwide closure. At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the launch of military operations in response to the attack, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated in a communiqué that those responsible “will regret” the assault.

 

At many of the gatherings, participants raised clenched fists and chanted “severe revenge,” calling for immediate military action. One citizen attending the Tehran rally told reporters that the armed forces “will respond to this attack.”

 

The assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Republic, who had been at the helm of power for more than three decades, marks one of the most significant political developments in modern Iranian history. At the same time, the nationwide scale of the gatherings and the focus of slogans on “revenge” and “no compromise” suggest that public sentiment is rapidly shifting toward demands for a decisive response.

 

As Iran’s streets become scenes of simultaneous mourning and anger, attention is now turning to domestic political developments and the regional consequences of this event — one that could usher in a new phase in the balance of power in the Middle East.

People gather to mourn after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)