Post by : Shakul

Iran has officially begun a 40-day national mourning period following the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in coordinated US-Israeli military strikes, according to Iranian state media. President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the assassination as “a great crime” and announced additional public holidays as crowds poured into the streets of Tehran and other major cities.

Thousands of mourners gathered at Enghelab Square and religious sites across Iran, including the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, as state television showed scenes of grief and mass ceremonies. Protests denouncing the killing were reported in several provinces, while security remained tight amid continued airstrikes in parts of the country. Iranian officials confirmed that senior military and security figures, along with members of Khamenei’s family, were also killed in the attacks.

The killing has triggered unrest beyond Iran’s borders. Demonstrations erupted in Iraq, Pakistan, and other parts of the region, with protesters targeting US diplomatic sites and chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Iraq declared three days of public mourning, while clashes between protesters and security forces were reported in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

Amid the crisis, Iranian authorities announced the formation of an interim leadership council to manage state affairs until a new supreme leader is selected. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard pledged retaliation, launching strikes against US and Israeli military assets across multiple Middle Eastern countries, sharply escalating fears of a wider regional conflict.

#world news #Asia News #Politics #Crime