By Amah
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Conflicting scenes unfolded across the globe and within Iran on Sunday following reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with jubilation in parts of the diaspora and solemn mourning in Tehran as state media confirmed his passing.
Video footage verified by AFP showed Iranians in North America taking to the streets in celebration. Crowds were seen cheering, playing music, clapping, and honking car horns late into the night. Some gatherings reportedly began even before a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social platform that “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.”
Within Iran, early reactions were more cautious. Shortly after 11 p.m. local time, residents in parts of Tehran reportedly opened their windows to applaud and play music, while whistles and cheers echoed through neighborhoods. Fireworks were visible in videos circulating on social media and verified by AFP. However, fears lingered following a deadly crackdown on mass anti-government protests last month, and large-scale street celebrations did not immediately materialize.
The protests, which began in December over worsening economic conditions in the sanctions-hit country, had escalated into nationwide demonstrations by early January. The unrest marked one of the most serious challenges to Iran’s leadership in years. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 7,000 people were killed in the crackdown, though it warned the true toll could be significantly higher. Iranian authorities have acknowledged over 3,000 deaths but attributed the violence to “terrorist acts” allegedly backed by the United States and Israel.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that members of Khamenei’s immediate family were killed in recent US and Israeli strikes. The semi-official Fars News Agency cited informed sources within the Supreme Leader’s household as confirming the deaths of his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, describing them as “martyrs.”
As news of Khamenei’s death was formally announced, thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran’s Enghelab (Revolution) Square. Dressed mostly in black, many waved Iranian flags and held portraits of the late leader, chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel,” according to AFP journalists on the ground.
State television reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian would lead a transitional council alongside judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and another senior legal official. The arrangement was said to have been announced by presidential adviser Mohammad Mokhber, outlining a temporary leadership structure pending constitutional procedures.
The stark contrast between scenes of celebration abroad and mourning at home underscores the deep divisions surrounding Khamenei’s decades-long rule. While supporters hailed him as a steadfast defender of the Islamic Republic, critics blamed his leadership for economic hardship, political repression, and international isolation.
As Iran enters an uncertain transition, questions loom over the future direction of the Islamic Republic, regional stability, and the broader geopolitical consequences of the leadership vacuum.
