Iranians in Cyprus celebrate Khamenei’s death

Iranians in Cyprus gathered outside the embassy in Nicosia on Sunday to rejoice over the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed during a series of US-Israeli attacks in Iran.

The protest was similar to a number held around the world on Sunday.

“We are celebrating the death of Khamenei, we are overjoyed and very happy,” one demonstrator told the Cyprus Mail. “We expect in one week to have a free country once more”.

Asked about the US bombing of Iran, the same demonstrator said that was “no problem! Very happy, we are singing Trump and Bibi’s name today! Our Shah will return and we will accept nothing less than the rightful heir to replace the regime”.

Around 20 police officers monitored the demonstration from the other side of the street, although it passed off peacefully.

Hours after the US and Israel said an air strike killed Khamenei in the military campaign to overthrow the government of the Islamic Republic, Iran’s state media confirmed the 86-year-old leader had died.

Inside Iran, some grieved for Khamenei while others celebrated his death, exposing a deep fault line in a country stunned by the sudden demise of the man who ruled for decades.

Khamenei, who built Iran into a powerful anti-US force and spread its sway across the Middle East during his 36-year iron-fisted rule, was working in his office at the time of Saturday’s attack, state media said. The raid also killed his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law.