Millions mourn as Iran begins week-long state funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei
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Millions mourn as Iran begins week-long state funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei
Mourners gather in Tehran as Iran begins six-day state funeral for slain Supreme Leader Khamenei
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Iran on Saturday began a week-long state funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with millions of mourners gathering in Tehran as dignitaries from more than 100 nations paid their respects to the slain leader. The body of the 86-year-old cleric, killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on 28 February, was brought to the Grand Mosalla in Tehran late Thursday, where thousands wept as authorities unveiled the casket. Iranian state television confirmed the official start of the public mourning at 06:00 local time, marking the first of six days of ceremonies that will span multiple cities before his burial in Mashhad on 9 July.
Iranian officials estimate that between 15 and 20 million people will attend the funeral in Tehran alone, with similar crowds expected in Qom and other cities. Foreign delegations, including senior leaders from Pakistan, Iraq, Armenia, and Tajikistan, have arrived in the capital, alongside former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. The funeral procession will move through Qom and Iraq before concluding in Mashhad, the spiritual heart of Iran’s Shia community.
Security has been tightened across the country, with the Basij militia mobilised and a massive security operation underway. Iranian authorities have warned the US and Israel against any provocations during the ceremonies, threatening harsh retaliation. The funeral coincides with ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including Israeli drone strikes in Gaza that killed a child and injured another on Saturday.
The absence of Khamenei’s son and presumed successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has drawn attention. The younger Khamenei, who was reportedly injured in the February airstrike that killed his father, has not been seen in public since his appointment as supreme leader in March. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported the reappearance of General Ahmad Vahidi, the defence minister and a key figure in the Revolutionary Guard, who had been rumoured dead since February. Vahidi was photographed at the casket, suggesting he had been operating in the shadows for months.
The funeral marks a pivotal moment for Iran, uniting the nation under grief while testing its stability amid regional conflict. The scale of participation underscores Khamenei’s enduring influence, even as the country grapples with the aftermath of war and political transition.
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