State-run Press TV broadcast images of men and women gathered outside the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, many holding pictures of the late leader or holding one another as they struggled to process the news.

Some people became overwhelmed with the grief, sobbing openly. Others cried and raised slogans against the killing.

The shrine, one of the holiest sites in Iran, has long been associated with major religious and political gatherings.

Meanwhile, in the capital Tehran, there were reports of a mourners gathering following the announcement of Khamenei’s death.

Khamenei and Iran’s security forces have faced widespread criticism in recent weeks, with many Iranians accusing authorities of ordering a crackdown that reportedly led to the deaths of thousands of protesters during nationwide unrest.