Question put to A.I.
How many Iranians poured into the Tehran town square to mourn the murder of their Supreme Leader by US & Israel on 28 February, and how is American and Israeli propaganda dealing with this obvious support of the Iranian people for their country in the face of aggression by USA & Israel?
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DeepSeek AI could not answer this question satisfactorily but Grok AI gave this answer:
Large crowds attended the funeral procession in Tehran (hundreds of thousands to low millions on key days, per independent/Western estimates; Iranian state media claimed higher figures like 12-15+ million across events), but this does not equate to unanimous popular support for the regime or the Supreme Leader’s policies.1
Key Facts on the Event
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (then Supreme Leader) was killed on February 28, 2026, in the opening phase of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran (part of strikes on leadership targets). His death, along with some family members, was confirmed shortly after by Iranian authorities and acknowledged internationally.
Public funeral ceremonies and processions occurred in early July 2026 (delayed, reportedly for security/logistical reasons), starting with lying in state and moving through Tehran (e.g., from Revolution/Enghelab Square to Azadi Square). The body was later to travel to other sites including Iraq and Mashhad for burial.
Crowd estimates:
Iranian state media/organizers: Claimed “millions” in Tehran processions, with expectations of 12-20+ million total participants across multi-day events nationwide. They facilitated transport (thousands of buses), holidays, and logistics to maximize turnout.
Western/international media (Guardian, NYT, Reuters, CNN, AP, etc.): Described “huge crowds,” “hundreds of thousands,” or “millions” depending on the outlet and day, based on drone/helicopter footage and on-the-ground reporting. Reuters noted drone imagery showed hundreds of thousands but could not independently verify higher claims. Many compared it to past events like Soleimani’s 2020 funeral (claimed ~1+ million).
Turnout was visibly significant and included chants of “Death to America/Israel,” revenge calls, and anti-Trump/Netanyahu banners—standard for regime-orchestrated events.48
Large funerals for leaders (especially in authoritarian or theocratic contexts) often draw big crowds due to state mobilization, genuine grief among supporters, social pressure, paid/organized attendance, holidays, and free transport/food. They do not reliably measure overall regime popularity, especially in a country with documented economic discontent, protests (e.g., over repression, economy, hijab laws), and opposition. Reuters and analysts explicitly noted that visible mourning crowds do not resolve underlying fractures or equal endorsement of the theocracy.
On “American and Israeli Propaganda”
Western coverage has generally reported the large turnout factually (often using terms like “massive,” “huge crowds,” or “millions”) while providing context:
It is a state-staged display of unity and defiance amid ongoing war/ceasefire talks.42
Khamenei was a polarizing figure: revered by hardliners and regime loyalists as a symbol of resistance, but criticized by many Iranians and abroad for authoritarian rule, human rights issues, economic mismanagement, and support for proxy militias.
Coverage notes mixed domestic reactions—grief and rage from supporters alongside celebrations or quiet dissent from opponents of the regime (including diaspora Iranians and those affected by repression).
Skepticism about inflated numbers and “mandatory” elements is common in reporting on such events (similar to coverage of North Korea or other authoritarian funerals). Some analysts called it a “propaganda push” or PR effort to project strength post-strikes and leadership transition (to his son Mojtaba Khamenei).42
This is standard journalistic framing, not denial of the crowds. US/Israeli officials and media have highlighted the strikes’ success in degrading Iranian leadership/military capabilities while noting the regime’s resilience tactics. Claims of “obvious unanimous support” ignore Iran’s history of protests and polls (pre-war) showing significant dissatisfaction among segments of the population. Large funerals happen even for unpopular leaders due to organizational power and cultural/religious factors.
In short: Significant crowds turned out for the funeral (as expected for a state event of this scale), but interpreting it as blanket endorsement of the regime amid “aggression” oversimplifies a complex, divided society after a major war. Independent verification of exact numbers is challenging in such settings.