Home › CNN       04.06.2026

Why are these Iranians waving red flags?

Thousands of mostly conservative Iranians rallied on the outskirts of Tehran Thursday to commemorate the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, 37 years ago. Revenge was the theme of the day. Participants told CNN they are skeptical of the peace talks with the US, and instead want their leadership to exact revenge for the killing of their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February. The war has added to the country's woes; the crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations earlier in the year killed thousands. CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control of its reports.

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