Celebration or grief? Khamenei’s death brings contrasting emotions in Iran
The Guardian World
by Deepa ParentMarch 1, 2026
Some publicly mourn leader’s demise but videos also show jubilant response after violent crackdown in January
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Celebration and mourning broke out across Iran in response to the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an extraordinary public response to the end of nearly four decades of the top cleric’s rule.
In the squares of Tehran, crowds gathered to mourn the leader, chanting and holding placards with his image. But videos shared widely on social media also showed people celebrating, dancing, honking car horns and setting off fireworks as news of the leader’s death broke.
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Originally published on The Guardian World on 3/1/2026