Iran Marks 37th Anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's Passing Amid Ongoing Conflict
Tehran - BORNA - This year's commemorative ceremony took place under wartime conditions and in the painful wake of the martyrdom of the Leader of the Revolution. Millions of citizens gathered passionately under the unifying slogan: "Covenant with the Two Leaders of the Revolution, Allegiance to the Supreme Leader."
An empty chair symbolizing the absence of the late martyred Leader was prominently placed at the ceremony, serving as a poignant focus of the event. During the proceedings, a message from the newly appointed Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, was officially read to the public by Hojjat-ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Haj Ali Akbari.
Prominent Dignitaries and Officials in Attendance
A wide array of senior military and state officials, alongside members of the Khomeini household, attended the ceremony to pay their respects. The event saw the presence of Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, grandson and custodian of the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, alongside other family descendants including Seyyed Ali Khomeini, Seyyed Yasser Khomeini, and Hojjat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini.
Senior judicial and political figures also joined the gathering, including Hojjat-ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Mohseni Ejei, Chief of the Judiciary; Hojjat-ol-Eslam Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, Chief of the Supreme Court; Hojjat-ol-Eslam Majid Ansari, Vice President for Legal Affairs; and Mohsen Esmaeili, Vice President for Strategic and Parliamentary Affairs. They were accompanied by Major General Mohsen Rezaei and Mohammad-Ali Ansari, Head of the Central Committee for the Commemoration of Imam Khomeini.
The country's military and media apparatus were heavily represented by Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, Commander of the IRGC Mohammad Rasool-Allah Corps; Brigadier General Hossein Nejat, Deputy Commander of the Tharallah Headquarters; Brigadier General Hossein Maroufi; Hossein Shariatmadari, Editor-in-Chief of Kayhan Newspaper; and Peyman Jebelli, Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
Massive Public Turnout Amid Regional Tension
The gates of the Holy Shrine were opened to eager mourners starting at 6:30 AM, and the official ceremony commenced at 9:00 AM with traditional eulogies and religious recitations.
Heavily influenced by the current geopolitical climate and ongoing conflict in the region, this year's ceremony was notably held without the attendance of foreign ambassadors. Despite this, a massive and vibrant crowd of devoted citizens from Tehran and its neighboring provinces filled the venue. The sheer volume of attendees completely packed the primary indoor spaces of the mausoleum, spilling over into the surrounding courtyards and demonstrating an overwhelming public turnout for the 37th anniversary.
End Article