Party or wailing? Khamene's death in U.S.-Israel attacks brings mixed emotions to Iran

In Tehran, hundreds of people gathered to mourn the supreme leader. The market was filled with people dressed in black, many crying and holding pictures of Khamene. Some cheered “America's death” and Israel's “deadly”, waving Iran's flags and displaying a clear commitment to the regime's ideology.

But social media images also showed celebrations in several cities. On the streets of Tehran and Karaj, people were dancing, blowing car horns, throwing fireworks and going out on their balconys to express good cheer.

However, many Iranians remain afraid. Armed security forces were still present on the street as people tried to understand what would happen next to the country. Atausa Mirzade from Chiraz told The Guardian that she couldn't be happy for Khamene's death, remembering the chaos in Iraq and the fear of the consequences of a political vacuum.

For many others, such as Mahsa Piraeus and the families of the victims of antigovernmental protests, the news marked the beginning of a new era. “Today is a beautiful day,” She said, stressing that, although many jobs remain to be done, the news brings a new hope and an opportunity for justice.

This twofold response, amid grief and the holiday, amid relief and fear, reflects the complexity of emotions in Iran after the death of a leader who changed the country's history for more than three decades.