TEHRAN: The body of Iran’s late supreme leader, killed in recent US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East conflict, arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Friday for his funeral, according to state media. Authorities anticipate millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries to attend Saturday’s official ceremony, with the capital’s chief negotiator urging a massive turnout to honor his legacy.
Images captured mourners carrying Khamenei’s coffin, adorned with Iran’s tricolor flag, into the Grand Mosalla, a key ceremonial site. Additional scenes showed crowds in black attire during a pre-funeral gathering, as the coffin stood amid red flowers and white butterflies against a somber backdrop.
Funeral preparations, initially postponed due to the conflict, are proceeding as Iran and the United States maintain a fragile ceasefire following a preliminary agreement to de-escalate tensions.
Pakistan, a mediator in the US-Iran talks, confirmed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attendance. China, Afghanistan, and Iran’s Caucasus neighbors also announced plans to send representatives.
On Thursday, workers prepared the Grand Mosalla, with security forces directing traffic and halting vehicles near the venue. “We are planting flowers and watering the shrubs for the farewell ceremony of our martyred guide,” said worker Hossein Moghadassi, wearing a hat and scarf to shield against the heat.
Tehran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on Iranians to “write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence.” He emphasized that the nation’s call for justice must resonate globally.
Khamenei, a revered spiritual figure among Shia Muslims, died at 86 after strikes on his Tehran compound. His body will lie in state for three days at the Grand Mosalla, draped in banners featuring his portraits and quotations. The remains of his relatives, also killed in the attacks, will also be displayed.
Officials estimate 15 to 20 million attendees, marking the largest state funeral in Iran’s history. Ghalibaf described the event as “one of the most significant moments” in the nation’s history.
Tehran, along with Qom and Mashhad, will observe public holidays during the ceremonies. Offices in Tehran will close from Saturday to Monday, with traffic restrictions limiting access to the city center. Airspace over Tehran will be partially closed from Friday, fully restricted by Monday.
Following Tehran’s events, Khamenei’s remains will be transported to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before burial on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace. It remains unclear if his son and successor Mojtaba, who has not been seen publicly since assuming the role, will attend the main ceremony.
Representatives from approximately 30 countries are expected, with mourners arriving from neighboring Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
