On Sunday, a large group of Iranian-Americans in New York City celebrated the reported death of Ali Khamenei, who, along with several of his top officials, was killed in an attack conducted by the US and Israeli forces in Tehran. Similar festivities broke out in various cities worldwide.
In Midtown, around 500 people gathered, chanting “USA! USA! USA!” and expressing gratitude toward President Trump. They held a banner that proclaimed “Make Iran Great Again.”
The crowd moved towards Times Square, proudly displaying Iran’s lion and sun flag, which had been prohibited following the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ushered in a time of harsh repression across the region.
Participants sang the old national anthem of Iran, reveling in what they viewed as the most significant blow to Iran’s governing regime in nearly half a century: Khamenei’s death, which occurred during a significant military strike that also targeted over 40 government officials.
“Around here, they don’t say this is ‘war.’ Instead, it’s called ‘saving lives,'” remarked Ramin Sohrab, a 45-year-old from Connecticut.
He added, “We’re here to express our gratitude to President Trump and the military.”
But the celebrations extended beyond US streets. Iranian families scattered across the globe voiced their support after weeks of protests faced brutal crackdowns and executions by Khamenei’s regime.
Reza Ebrahimi, 37, shared a conversation he had with his mother that morning. “She believes military action is necessary,” he relayed. “She even said she’s willing to sacrifice her life for global safety. My brother was shot just two days into the protests.”
“We amplify the voices of those in Iran who can’t speak out. Many of us have family there. We really are the voice for the Iranians who can’t express themselves right now,” he added, emphasizing that the US is “rescuing the Iranian people.”
Nevzat Ravvah, 47, told his mother that many people were taking refuge indoors as bombings occurred. He mentioned they were ignoring local state media, which urged citizens to leave their homes, arguing it was meant to artificially inflate civilian casualty counts as part of anti-American rhetoric.
“The government tells people not to stay indoors, but many are heeding the warnings from President Trump instead,” Ravvah noted. “They’re saying on national television that they want to kill innocent people. It’s baffling But they’re listening to Trump and choosing to stay put.”
Interestingly, his family celebrated the airstrikes even while evacuating from the attacks.
“My mother expressed her happiness about our celebrations,” he recounted. “She found joy in hearing about Khamenei’s death.” She emphasized, “We transformed all our music into dance music. This is a moment we’ve long awaited.”
Celebrations were seen in other US cities like Los Angeles, and gatherings occurred in places like London, Paris, and Canada.
In London, some demonstrators waved both Israeli flags and the lion and sun flag, showcasing a rare bond between two groups historically divided by conflict.
Back in New York, some reportedly noticed counter-protests throughout the day but implied those involved didn’t appear to be actual Iranians.
“I saw some white people and Palestinians, yet I didn’t encounter anyone from Iran at the protest,” Ebrahimi remarked. “We are here today to celebrate Khamenei’s demise and express our gratitude to the United States and its military for what they’ve done.”
