The US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani has brought huge crowds onto the streets for funeral processions and marches in his honor.
Iranian state media reported Monday that "millions" of people thronged the capital city Tehran, and although these numbers have not been verified, video footage showed huge crowds in the streets.
CNN spoke to a number of people who attended the Tehran procession, and anger was the overriding emotion. But many people spoke of their desire for a diplomatic solution as tensions with the US rise.
Hasan Razavi, a doctor and manager of a drug rehabilitation clinic, told CNN that the rally for Soleimani was "glorious" and compared it to the 1989 funeral of former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, which reportedly drew a crowd of some 10 million people.
"Qasem Soleimani was our national and revolutionary hero," said Razavi. "He was the most revered commander fighting for peace."
Razavi told CNN that Iran should file a lawsuit against the US for what he called a "terrorist action."
Another participant, 33-year-old Payam Parhiz, a social network activist and journalist, warned against any Iranian retaliation that could lead to all out war between the two countries.
"I participated in the rally to show my anger but I do not want any 'tough or harsh revenge' from the Iranian side against America because an all-out war will not be an equal war," said Parhiz, who is worried about human casualties and collateral damage to infrastructure in the event of a full blown conflict.
"I wish Iran will not retaliate at all, and seek diplomatic channels to file a lawsuit and seek international condemnation for the Trump administration, rather seeking 'an eye for an eye' retaliation,†added Parhiz.
Pro-government journalist Jalal Bazargar, 49, told CNN that he shared the anger of the majority of Iranians, but was confident that the government would find a way to take revenge while also reducing tensions.
"War is suicide and we do not want to commit suicide collectively," he said. "I believe in our diplomats' and negotiators’ skills in finding common ground to flare down and deescalate.â€
However other attendees said that government officials were incompetent and should step down.
"Our government is entirely incapable of running the country and harnessing hyper inflation," said Hasan Edalati, 30, in reference to Iran's ongoing economic problems. "The government must leave office."
And former Iranian MP Hoshang Tale warned the government that if the needs of those paying tribute to Soleimani were not met, "then the same people will take to the streets to topple the incompetent officials."
Anti-government protests flared in Iran in late 2019 shortly after the announcement of an increase in fuel prices by as much as 300%.
At least 208 people were killed in a brutal crackdown, according to the UN Human Rights Office, but the US killing of Soleimani appears to have united many in Iran, at least for now.
