In a message released on Saturday, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei paid tribute to the late Leader, describing him as a steadfast symbol of patience, insight and resistance whose legacy and ideals would continue to inspire the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah.

The commander said divine retribution against the "terrorist United States" and the "illegitimate Zionist regime" for the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution is not far away.

He condemned the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, saying it had been carried out by the "most evil criminals" out of fear of his spiritual authority, unwavering resolve and influential leadership.

The IRGC Navy commander's statement came as hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Musalla for the farewell ceremony of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Participants, many carrying "Ya Litharat al-Hussein" flags, repeatedly chanted calls for revenge while renewing their pledge of allegiance to the Leader's successor.

The ceremony followed a tribute attended a day earlier by senior foreign delegations from dozens of countries and international organizations.

Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei was martyred in a joint US-Israeli strike on Tehran on February 28, 2026, at the start of the 40-day war of aggression against Iran.