Thousands Mourn Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran
Thousands of mourners have assembled in the courtyard of Tehran's main mosque to pay their respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's former supreme leader.
Khamenei's body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla, where it will remain for three days before burial.
Authorities anticipate that millions of people will participate in the six-day funeral procession across Iran and Iraq.
The body of Khamenei rests alongside the remains of family members who were also killed in US-Israeli air strikes.
Funeral Gatherings Mark First Day of Commemorations
On the first day of the funeral ceremonies, large crowds of mourners dressed in black gathered outside Tehran's main mosque to honor the late supreme leader.
Ayatollah Khamenei's body lies in state at the Grand Mosalla ahead of his burial scheduled for next Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad.
Officials expect between 15 and 20 million attendees at the events held across Iran and Iraq over the coming days. These ceremonies occur more than four months after Khamenei was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes.
Supporters of the Islamic regime gathered on Saturday morning, reportedly chanting slogans against the United States and calling for revenge for the ayatollah's death.
"We came [to the funeral] because we promised the supreme leader we would stand by him to the very end," said 37-year-old professor Reza to AFP in the Grand Mosalla's courtyard.
"For a long time, we shouted that we would sacrifice our lives for the leader, but it was he who sacrificed himself for us."
Arash Rahimi, 40, told : "Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their supreme leader.
"As our leader has said, we have a blood feud with the United States. Our relations with the United States will never be good."
Context of Khamenei's Death and Regional Impact
Khamenei was killed during coordinated Israeli and US strikes on Iran in late February, an event that escalated into a broader regional conflict.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran's government was eager to negotiate a peace deal to end the war following a preliminary agreement between the two parties. On Friday, he remarked, "We gave them [Iran] a week off for a funeral because we're nice."
Security Measures and Funeral Schedule
Central Tehran will be under lockdown throughout the weekend as the funeral ceremonies commence. This event is expected to be the largest funeral in terms of attendees relative to the country's population.
Khamenei's body will remain at the Grand Mosalla for three days, lying alongside his family members who also perished in the air strikes.
Following this, three additional days of ceremonies will take place outside Tehran.
On Tuesday, the body will be transported to Qom, south of Tehran, where a senior Shia cleric will lead funeral prayers at Jamkaran, a significant religious site in Iran.
On Wednesday, the procession will move to Najaf in Iraq. After ceremonies at the shrine of Imam Ali, the first imam of Shia Islam, events will continue in Karbala before the body returns to Iran.
On Thursday, Khamenei will be interred at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the mausoleum of Shia Islam's eighth imam and Iran's most important pilgrimage site.
Ongoing Commemorations and Leadership Succession
Following the six-day funeral procession, commemorative events will continue nationwide for 40 days, culminating in observances on the first anniversary of Khamenei's burial.
Khamenei was succeeded as Iran's supreme leader by his son, Mojtaba, who has not been publicly seen since assuming the role, leading to speculation about his health.
Whether Mojtaba Khamenei will appear at the funeral remains a significant question amid the carefully orchestrated ceremonies.
