Why are red flags flying at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Iran?

Summary

Iran’s dayslong funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Saturday as the administration shut down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran with hundreds of thousands of mourners waiving a red and white flag at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque, where the body of Ali Khamenei is to lie for three days. Thousands of red and white flags at Khamenei’s funeral procession symbolise “martyrdom” and “revenge” in the Shia Muslim tradition, CNN reported. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...