850,000 Fireworks Light Up U.S. Independence Day as Iran Holds Funeral Amid Tears: A Tale of Two Nations

Mourners Weep at Khamenei's Funeral
Trump Delivers 250th Anniversary Speech in the U.S.

On the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, starkly contrasting scenes unfolded in the United States and Iran.

Fireworks Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on July 5, on July 4 (local time), the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the American sky was filled with spectacular fireworks celebrating the nation's founding, while in Iran, the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was held, with the sound of weeping echoing throughout the area.

That day, at the Grand Musalla Imam Khomeini, a major place of worship in Tehran, Khamenei's funeral was held. He had died in February due to a U.S. and Israeli airstrike. On the stage at the center of Musalla Square, the coffins of Khamenei and five family members—including his 14-month-old granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law—were placed.

Mourners dressed in black chanted slogans such as "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Death to the assassins." There was also a banner reading "Kill Trump."

Mourners shedding tears at the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

CNN reported that many mourners were shedding endless tears, and that on the temporary wall dividing the men’s and women’s sections at the funeral, phrases like "We do not negotiate with Satan" and "Curses upon those who negotiate" were written in chalk. Throughout the city, the song "Nohe," expressing grief over Khamenei's death, played all day long.

In sharp contrast, grand celebrations were held in the United States for the 250th anniversary. Around the monuments on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., fighter jets flew low in an airshow. After U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a commemorative speech, as many as 850,000 fireworks lit up the sky. The organizers had planned to set off 850,000 fireworks over about 40 minutes, aiming to set a new Guinness World Record for fireworks displays.

As the U.S. military band performed songs such as "YMCA" and "Sweet Caroline," the audience danced to the rhythm and chanted "USA." President Trump boasted of the U.S. military’s power, saying, "We used it, and it was a tremendous success. Look at Venezuela. Look at Iran. We took them out. We destroyed their armies."

The only commonality between the two countries, despite their stark contrasts, was the heat. In Tehran, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius and large crowds gathering, water spray devices were installed in squares and on streets, and bottled water, watermelon, and cucumbers were distributed for free to help people cool down. Washington also faced extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, causing the planned daytime parade to be canceled.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Axios, President Trump said he was surprised to see people crying at Khamenei’s funeral, adding, "Maybe those tears are fake."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.