Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday as funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, officially began, with authorities expecting millions to participate in commemorative events over the coming days.
Read More: Iran begins week of public mourning and funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei
According to Iranian officials, between 15 and 20 million people are expected to attend ceremonies in the capital during a week of mourning intended to demonstrate national unity and resilience. Khamenei, who led Iran from 1989 until his death at the age of 86, was killed on February 28 during US and Israeli strikes, according to Iranian authorities.
Large crowds carrying red flags, symbolising vengeance, assembled at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin. Mourners chanted slogans against the United States while many walked long distances to attend the ceremony.
The funeral programme spans six days. Following the public farewell in Tehran, the coffin will remain on display until Monday before a funeral procession through the capital. It will then be taken to the religious city of Qom, followed by ceremonies in Iraq’s holy Shia cities, before burial in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad later this week.
The ceremonies are also being closely watched for the first public appearance of Khamenei’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since being appointed following his father’s death.
Several senior Iranian officials attended the opening ceremony, while foreign dignitaries also arrived to pay their respects. Among them were Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Representatives of Hamas, Hezbollah and Afghanistan’s Taliban administration were also present.
Read More: PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir pay respects to Khamenei at state funeral in Tehran
Iranian leaders used the occasion to reiterate calls for national unity while warning that the country remained prepared to respond to future security threats. Authorities have implemented extensive security measures across Tehran, including road closures and crowd management plans, while emergency services have been deployed to help attendees cope with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius during the large public gatherings.