Mashhad (Iran) (AFP) - Calling for revenge and rejecting any compromise with the West, Iranians loyal to the Islamic republic massed on Thursday late into the night for the burial of supreme leader Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad.

An Israeli strike killed Khamenei in late February on the first day of the US-Israeli war against Iran, bringing an end to his more than three and a half decades in power.

Beating their chests and weeping, mourners lined the route as they waited for Khamenei’s coffin to arrive at the eastern city’s shrine of Imam Reza, the holiest site for Shia Muslims in Iran and the burial place he had chosen in his will.

The area around the shrine of Imam Reza was still bustling with a huge crowd in the evening, to the sound of religious chants, while worshippers lit candles.

A helicopter transported the body across the final stretch to the shrine because the main avenue was expected to be crammed with people.

With new hostilities breaking out with the United States even after an accord last month to end the war, at least one fighter jet escorted the plane carrying the late Iranian leader’s coffin to Mashhad.

The burial is to be the final act in a marathon six days of funeral ceremonies, which have allowed people to pay tribute in Tehran, the clerical hub of Qom and also Iraq.

Observers have been watching closely for any signs of Khamenei’s son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to make any public appearances and was said to have been injured in the same strike that killed his father.

But while the elder son Mostafa Khamenei and other family members and top officials were present, there was no sign of Mojtaba as the funeral prayers went on into the night.

- ‘Only revenge can soothe the pain’ -

Men wore black shirts while women were clad in black chadors, many waving the red flags that symbolise the search for vengeance in Shia Islam, AFP correspondents said.

Led by the funeral eulogist, they chanted slogans against compromise and US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They carried a massive banner which read “hey Trump we will kill you” written in English, AFP correspondents said.

“The loss of the leader is heavier than losing our parents,” said Hoda, 35, a housewife attending the funeral.

“Only the death of Trump and Netanyahu will soothe our pain. There should be no compromise at all,” she told AFP, referring to the deal with the US that ended months of hostilities in mid-June.

From the early hours of the morning, mourners dressed largely in black streamed towards the shrine carrying red flags despite temperatures nearing 40C.

“People here all seek revenge,” said Mohammad Afsharian, 41, a shop owner.

“I don’t know what’s the story with diplomacy and what’s the policy to continue diplomacy but all the people are carrying red flags in a sign of seeking revenge,” he said.

The anger echoed criticism from Iranian hardliners, who have repeatedly attacked President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government for pursuing talks with Washington after the killing of Khamenei.

“Only revenge, only revenge can soothe the pain,” said Tahereh Rahmani, 37, a school executive.

“We are here with our red flags to call for the revenge of our leader.”

- ‘There will be blood’ -

Near the mausoleum, many children were present. Many came with their families, wearing caps in the colours of the Islamic republic.

At the foot of a hotel called Miami, a giant banner showed a caricature of Trump with a bounty on his head.

Another sign showed Netanyahu with a message in English: “There will be blood.”

Khamenei will be buried with his infant granddaughter, son-in-law, daughter and Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife Zahra Haddad Adel, who were all killed in the February 28 strikes.

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