Image Source, Reuters
Iran has launched an extended public mourning and funeral ceremony for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed four months ago in a joint US-Israeli attack. The ceremony honors his legacy amid ongoing conflict.
The former Ayatollah’s body is currently placed at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran. His funeral is scheduled to take place next Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad.
Iranian officials anticipate that between 12 and 20 million people will participate in the ceremonies.
Senior government officials have described this as the funeral of the century.
The funeral takes place amid a tenuous ceasefire following preliminary peace talks between Iran and the United States held in June.
Who Is Attending?
Image Source, Reuters
On Friday, the casket draped in the colors of the Islamic Republic was positioned at the Grand Mosalla.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was present at the religious complex to pay respects.
Also attending were Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is mediating the peace talks with the US, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Representatives from Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, and Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman also attended the ceremonies.
During the six-day mourning period, an official funeral will be held in Tehran on Saturday, led by Mohammad Rasool Allah Corps.
Trump’s Response
Image Source, Reuters
The remains of Khamenei and family members killed in the February US-Israeli attack will remain at the Grand Mosalla for three days.
According to commander Hassan Hasanjadeh of the Mohammad Rasool Allah Corps, the casket has been elevated on a high platform for public viewing.
For crowd control, entrance and exit will be permitted every 15 to 20 minutes starting Saturday morning.
Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike at the end of February; the region remains affected by conflict since then.
Speaking from the United States on Friday night, President Donald Trump said his country remains committed to the ceasefire efforts.
“We have given them [Iran] a week off for the funeral. Because we are good,” Trump said during a speech at Mount Rushmore ahead of the 250th US Independence Day on July 4.
Ceremony Management
Image Source, Reuters
Officials have ordered all public and private offices to close from Saturday through Monday.
Reports indicate that private vehicle access will be banned in many central parts of the city during this period.
Tehran’s airport was partially closed on Friday and is planned to be fully closed on Monday. The ceremonies on Tuesday will be held in Qom, south of Tehran.
A senior Shia cleric will lead the main funeral prayer at Jamkaran, a significant religious site in Iran.
