Iran witness public celebrations following Ayatollah Khamenei death; Women revive the freedom narrative

As the Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei succumbed to Israel-US strikes, the Iranian people have hit the streets in celebration. The common people of the country who were suffocated under the Islamic theocracy and hardline autocratic rule, are rejoicing the death of the supreme leader as a symbol of freedom and democracy. Particularly, the Iranian women are celebrating the death of the Supreme Leader with dance and slogans.

Videos have surfaced online demonstrating how the women of Iran are celebrating and dancing on the streets without covering their hair. Under the clerical rule of Khamenei, women rights and freedom were severely curbed. Stringent restrictions were imposed on women dressing, education and on their day-to-day activities.

Iranian women are dancing in the streets—without hair coverings—after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei.

So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember. pic.twitter.com/Rh4cJQZGAO

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) February 28, 2026

As soon as the US President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death as an impact of US-Israel strikes, residents of Tehran(the capital city) and other regions began celebrations. They cheered the death of a despotic leader and chanted slogans from the balconies and windows of the houses. Many even lit firecrackers to mark their freedom from theocracy. Many other residents in Tehran played music and chanted “freedom, freedom”. Also, the Iranian diaspora across the globe have begun to celebrate the death of the Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In Karaj and Besat Town, crowd expressed their happiness by loudly honking car horns in the middle of the streets. In Fuladshahr, Borazjan and Mamasani, residents waved flags, whistled and danced even as missiles and military aircrafts continued strikes and occupied the skies of Iran. In the southern city of Gal-e-Dar, demonstrators reportedly toppled a statue of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. In Shiraz and Isfahan, hundreds gathered for impromptu street parties, some waving white cloths as a symbol of peace.

The Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei succumbed to the joint military strikes of Israel and Iran titled as “Operation Roaring Lion” and “Operation Epic Fury”. Many senior military officials, scientists of Iran who were indulged in the nuclear enrichment programme and other high-profile officials forming the core of clerical rule have died as an impact of the Israel-US strikes. In the early hours of March 1, Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei by stating him as “one of history’s most evil figures”.

Later, even the Iranian state media confirmed the death of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by stating that Khamenei’s body has been recovered from the rubble of his compound in Tehran. The news triggered large-scale cheer, freedom slogans, fireworks and celebrations in Tehran and beyond, which illustrates the much awaited liberty for the people of Iran. However, the future trajectory of Iranian politics and West Asia is still awaited as the conflict escalates and West Asia is embroiled with a major crisis. Will the death of the supreme leader of Iran assure political revival and re-emergence of democracy in Iran, as aspired by its people, the answer is awaited!