In brief
A vast procession of black‑clad mourners assembled outside Tehran’s Grand Mosalla to mark the first day of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral. The late leader’s body lies in state amid chants of anger and mourning. Authorities expect 15‑20 million people to attend the six‑day pilgrimage across Iran and Iraq, making it the country’s largest funeral ever in terms of sheer numbers. The ceremony will continue through main cities, ending with burial in Mashhad’s Imam Reza shrine. The event also showcases the Shiite regime’s response to the leader’s death, amid speculation over successor Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and role in the proceedings.
Thousands Crowd Tehran for Ayatollah Khamenei’s Funeral
Massive numbers of mourners in black gathered outside Tehran’s main mosque, the Grand Mosalla, to mark the first day of the former Supreme Leader’s funeral arrangements.
Khamenei’s body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla, before being moved to his hometown of Mashhad for burial on Thursday, the next day of the six‑day ceremony.
Authorities estimate that between 15 million and 20 million people will attend the ceremonies across Iran and Iraq over the coming days. The event is organised in four stages: the days in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala and finally Mashhad.
The crowds chant slogans against the United States, claiming a blood feud and vowing revenge for the leader’s killing by joint US‑Israeli strikes. “We promised the supreme leader we would stand by him to the very end,” said a 37‑year‑old professor Reza, echoing other supporters’ feelings that Khamenei sacrificed for them.
Khamenei was killed in a night of air strikes in late February, a blow that escalated tensions across the region. He was succeeded as Iran’s Supreme Leader by his son, Mojtaba, whose public appearances have been limited since taking the office, raising questions about his health and the extent of his participation in the ceremony.
After the body is laid at the Imam Reza shrine, it will be carried through the city for four additional days of commemorations and will remain on the shrine’s crypt for up to a year, completing the six‑day service. The procession will be followed by 40 days of remembrance activities across the country for the first anniversary of Khamenei’s burial.
