Iran has begun a multi-day funeral for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died months ago due to an airstrike at the beginning of the war. The 86-year-old leader’s body was displayed in a glass case in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, attracting mourners who chanted calls for revenge.

Billboards with Khamenei’s image lined the streets as people waved banners and flags. Many attendees engaged in chest-beating, a typical Shiite mourning ritual. One mourner, Hananeh Mousavi, expressed her deep sorrow while attending with her mother, wishing she had not lived to see this day.

An outdoor stage at the Grand Mosalla mirrored where Khamenei delivered speeches in his compound, destroyed in the strike that led to his death and that of some family members on February 28. His casket was the focal point, marked with a black turban indicating his lineage from the Prophet Muhammad. This funeral is expected to draw millions, similar to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s burial in 1989, with measures in place to help mourners cope with the heat such as spraying water and providing cold drinks.

Ali Kazemi traveled from Tabriz, over 330 miles away, to be part of the event. He emphasized the gathering’s role in showing Iran’s unity and resolve. A large attendance could bolster Iran’s government amid negotiations with the U.S. and tensions with Israel.

The funeral commenced on July 4, coinciding with the U.S.’s 250th anniversary. Though officials did not comment on the timing, anti-American sentiments were vocal, with the crowd chanting familiar slogans. Across the U.S., President Donald Trump remarked on the situation, reiterating his tough stance against Iran.

Amidst mourning, Khamenei’s body will tour various cities in Iran and Iraq. Tehran has temporarily shut down to accommodate the proceedings. There is uncertainty about Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s participation; his late wife, who also died in the strike, is among those remembered. Iran’s military has issued warnings to both Israel and the U.S. to steer clear of missteps in this volatile period.