Iran Mourns and Celebrates: Mixed Reactions to Khamenei’s Death

Clusters of celebration and mourning have erupted across Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking an unprecedented public reaction to the conclusion of nearly four decades of his rule.

In Tehran’s squares, crowds assembled to lament the leader, chanting and brandishing placards bearing his likeness. Yet videos circulating widely on social media also captured people rejoicing, dancing, honking car horns and igniting fireworks as the news of his death spread.

Some families stepped onto their balconies to join the revelry. Among them was Nazanin, 24, a media professional living in Tehran. “The street was packed! Tears were streaming down my face. No one outside can grasp what Iranians who suffered under this murderer feel right now,” she said.

“I was hoping – for the sake of Nika, Sarina and Mahsa – that the report was true,” she added, referring to Nika Shakarami, Sarina Esmailzadeh and Mahsa Amini, three women killed in 2022 who became symbols of the Women, Life, Freedom protests. “But I could not believe it. I barely slept.”

The divergent reactions expose deep fault lines in a nation stunned by the sudden loss of a man who governed for 36 years. For those who endured the brutality of the regime’s recent crackdown on nationwide protests, the news felt like vindication. More than 7,000 people have been confirmed dead in the demonstrations, with another 11,000 deaths still under investigation, according to the US‑based human‑rights organization HRANA. Tens of thousands more were detained or injured.

Mina, 20, a university student in Tehran, was part of a protest group that came under gunfire when state forces opened fire in January. “I saw people collapse in front of us. I will never forget the sight of young men and women, full of life, lying in a pool of blood. All I could think then was that those responsible should suffer an even worse fate. Today, that desire for retribution seemed answered when I learned of Khamenei’s death,” she said.

A doctor from Rasht said he remained haunted by a January spent treating hundreds of protesters with gunshot wounds to the head, chest and genitals, yet he quietly celebrated the news. “I smoked a cigarette for the first time last night. It was the best Saturday night ever,” he remarked.

He added that, while uncertain about what lies ahead for Iran, the supreme leader’s death brought a sense of relief for many. “We as a nation have been waiting for this for decades. I feel like I am dreaming, but we are cautiously celebrating. For now we celebrate – despite security forces armed with AK‑47s.”

In Arak, residents said that moments after the news appeared online, people gathered in the squares and offered tea to one another. In Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad, groups of students rode motorbikes through the city in a jubilant procession, a witness told CuriosityNews.