Iranians began assembling on Friday for the scheduled funeral rites of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as domestic officials and foreign dignitaries arrived to pay their final tributes to the figure who led the Islamic Republic for over three decades.
Iranian authorities have arranged an extended six-day commemoration for Khamenei, who governed until his death at age 86 on the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli conflict on February 28.
Following five weeks of hostilities, negotiations have temporarily paused the war, and the funeral arrangements provide the regime with a platform to project unity and resilience amid the ongoing tensions.
Hundreds of regime supporters had already gathered outside the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran by Friday evening, anticipating public access from 6:00 a.m. local time (02:30 GMT) the next morning, with large turnouts expected.
“We endure this wait because it is our final farewell to our leader,” said Somayye Hamedi, an attendee, to AFP. “It is not difficult or painful for us.”
The late leader’s coffin, draped in the Islamic Republic flag with his signature black turban atop it, was carefully transferred into the venue earlier in the day.
Priests and regime officials, including Ahmad Vahidi, who assumed leadership of the Revolutionary Guards following the assassination of his predecessor in the same attacks that killed Khamenei, paid their respects.
Notably, Khamenei’s son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has so far avoided public appearances, communicating solely through written statements and reportedly sustaining injuries during the strikes, the severity of which remain undisclosed.
The funeral procession will remain in state at the Grand Mosalla until Monday, after which it will move to Qom on Tuesday, proceed to Shia holy sites in Iraq on Wednesday, and ultimately be interred in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.
Regime officials visibly grieving, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led U.S. negotiation efforts, demonstrated solidarity during the initial proceedings.
Other victims of the targeted strikes, including Khamenei’s infant granddaughter, will also be laid to rest as part of the mourning events.
Among the international attendees was Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose nation has mediated between Iran and the U.S., accompanied by military chief Asim Munir. Russian Deputy Security Council Head Dmitry Medvedev represented President Vladimir Putin in person.
Foreign guests also included Mohammed Darwish, representative of the Hamas Shura Council, and family members of the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, killed during an Israeli operation the previous year.
Ghalibaf previously urged nationwide participation, declaring, “The nation’s call for vengeance must resonate globally.” Army Chief Amir Hatami vowed retribution against Israel and the U.S. for the blood of the martyred leader and the nation’s other martyrs.
Security measures remain elevated, with riot police deployed and surrounding roads blocked. Massive Red Crescent camps have been erected in a Tehran park to accommodate attendees. Authorities emphasize crowd-safety protocols due to risks of stampedes, broadcasting safety guidelines widely. Cooling measures, including road-water spraying, have been implemented as temperatures exceed 35°C.
AFP reported that Tehran saw unusually light traffic during pre-ceremony preparations, with some residents evacuating the city.
“The roads out of Tehran are completely packed,” reported Saeid, a 29-year-old tech worker, to AFP from Paris.
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