WANA (Mar 06) –  Tehran witnessed one of its most crowded Friday prayers in recent months today—an event held in an atmosphere marked by grief, anger, and national solidarity. Thousands of Tehran residents gathered from the early hours of the morning at the open grounds of the Imam Khomeini Musalla to attend the first Friday prayer since Iran’s leader was killed in attacks by the United States and Israel.

 

The ceremony was led by Hojjat-ol-Eslam Mohammad Javad Haj-Ali-Akbari, who used this week’s sermon to convey what appeared to be the Iranian leadership’s central message in the days following the crisis: the continuation of the leader’s path, resistance against adversaries, and reliance on public support.

 

In a significant part of his remarks, Haj-Ali-Akbari reflected on the personality of Iran’s slain leader, describing him as a “guide, father, and healer of society’s pain.” He used a metaphor that was widely echoed in Iranian domestic media.

 

According to him, the death of Iran’s leader was “the sunset of a sun,” but at the same time “thousands of springs of sunlight have erupted among the Iranian people,” who will continue his path.

 

The political portion of Haj-Ali-Akbari’s sermon focused on one central theme: the presence of the people.

Demonstrators attend an anti-Israeli and U.S. rally after Friday prayer, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

He said that the answer to the question of how the slain leader’s path should be continued can be summarised in two concepts: “the presence of the people in the arena” and “support for the armed forces.” According to him, the large public turnout at gatherings and ceremonies strengthens “the morale of the fighters” and boosts the spirit of society as a whole.

 

He also argued that Iran’s adversaries had believed the country’s political structure depended on a single individual, but recent developments, he said, demonstrated that the strength of the Islamic Republic stems from “the faith and determination of the nation.”

 

In another part of the sermon, Haj-Ali-Akbari criticised  Israeli crimes against civilians, schools, and children.

 

He also said that despite pressures and crises, the Islamic Republic would “continue its path more firmly than before.”

 

In the final section of his remarks, Tehran’s Friday prayer leader touched on foreign policy, praising what he described as Iran’s “active diplomacy.”

 

He said the resilience of the Iranian people, combined with the country’s diplomatic efforts, had created “new equations,” and he thanked Iran’s security and diplomatic officials for managing the recent situation.

People attend Friday prayer, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The atmosphere: mourning, slogans, and a display of unity

Reports from journalists at the Musalla indicated that large crowds had gathered, many carrying Iranian flags and images of the slain leader.

 

Many participants had arrived hours before the prayer began. After the ceremony ended, the crowd took part in a protest march against the United States and Israel.

 

Among the demonstrators, slogans were heard in support of Iran’s armed forces and calling for a response to the recent attacks. Participants condemned the strikes on Iranian territory and the killing of the country’s leader.

 

One participant told reporters: “Our duty was to stand beside our country at this historical moment.”

 

Another added: “The enemy cannot frighten us.”

 

This week’s Friday prayer in Tehran went beyond a religious ceremony. At a moment when Iran is confronting one of the most sensitive periods in its contemporary history following foreign attacks and the killing of its leader, the event became a stage for demonstrating domestic unity, sending a political message to external adversaries, and attempting to preserve the morale of the broader public.