Qasem Soleimani Death: Millions of Mourners Turned Out in Tehran for Soleimani's Funeral Procession

                    
                            

The streets of Tehran are packed with throngs of Iranians young and old to pay their respects to General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike last week in Baghdad, Iraq.

Iranian state media Press TV have put the number who turned out for his funeral procession as "millions,” although this is yet to be verified. 

Reza Moghaddam, who was among those on Revolution Street, in front of Tehran University, said that the cross-section of Iranian society at the event was unprecedented.

“I am 36 years old and have never seen such a crowd,” Moghaddam told CNN. “The most important thing is that they come from all groups.”

“From early morning, the people had gathered. They read the Quran. And they were crying, declaring readiness to counter Trump's threat.”

Just weeks before, thousands of anti-government protesters had taken to the streets to voice their frustration with Iran’s leaders, as well as the crippling economic sanctions imposed on the country by the Trump administration. But widespread reverence for Soleimani, who commands a cult-like status in the country, has seemingly united Iranians — even critics of the government. 

Mourners hold poster depicting Soleimani during his funeral ceremony in Tehran on Monday. Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Iranians surround the coffins of Soleimani and others killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad on Friday. Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

General Ismail Qaani -- Soleimani's long-time lieutenant and his successor as the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force -- cries over Soleimani's coffin during the funeral ceremony on Monday. Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Iranians set a US and Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images