Red ‘flag of revenge’ raised in Qom: What it means for Iran and the region

Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran during a joint US-Israeli operation.

• Red "flag of revenge" raised after Khamenei's killing in Iran
• Alireza Arafi joins Iran's interim leadership council
• US and Israel blamed for airstrike that killed Khamenei

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A red “flag of revenge” was hoisted over the dome of the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom in a symbolic gesture following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The mosque, a site of deep religious significance in Iran, has historically raised the red flag to signal a call for justice and retaliation. Media reports said the move reflects mounting anger among Khamenei’s supporters as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.

Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran during a joint US-Israeli operation. Iranian state media confirmed his death on Sunday, triggering protests, mourning gatherings and sharp political reactions both within Iran and abroad.

US President Donald Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” and said his death presented “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive” and urged Iranians to “join forces” and “overthrow the regime.” The Israel Defense Forces said Khamenei had been the “architect” of plans to destroy Israel, calling him the “head of the Iranian octopus.”

In Tehran, reports said cheers were heard in some areas after news of his death first emerged, even as black smoke rose over parts of the city following the strikes.

Interim leadership announced

Amid uncertainty over succession, Iran has moved quickly to put in place a temporary governing structure. According to the ISNA news agency, 66-year-old cleric Alireza Arafi has been appointed as the jurist member of a three-member Leadership Council.

Arafi joins President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on the interim body, which will exercise the supreme leader’s duties until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent successor.

State media said the council will manage key constitutional responsibilities during the transition, as the country navigates heightened regional conflict and internal political uncertainty.