Public Mourning Begins for Former Supreme Leader
Iran has commenced several days of public mourning and funeral processions for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over four months after his death in strikes attributed to the US and Israel.
The body of the late Ayatollah will lie in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla starting Friday, preceding his burial in his birthplace, Mashhad, scheduled for next Thursday.
Authorities in Iran anticipate attendance between 12 and 20 million people, describing the event as the "funeral of the century." This development occurs amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States following a preliminary agreement in June to halt hostilities.
Ceremonial Schedule and Arrangements
A six-day series of ceremonies will begin at 06:00 local time (03:30 BST) on Saturday at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla, where visitors may pay their respects until Sunday afternoon.
An official funeral ceremony will be held in Tehran on Saturday, organized by the Mohammad Rasulullah Corps based in Tehran.
"Khamenei's coffin would be displayed on an elevated platform, with crowd flows designed to allow visitors to enter and leave within 15 to 20 minutes," said Hassan Hassanzadeh, commander of the Mohammad Rasulullah Corps.
The body will remain in the Grand Mosalla for three days alongside the remains of family members who also perished in the US and Israeli strikes in February.
The coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, including his 1-year-old granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, who is pictured
Authorities have mandated the closure of public and private offices in Tehran from Saturday through Monday. Additionally, traffic restrictions will limit private vehicle access in most of the city center, as reported by AFP. The airspace over Tehran will be partially closed starting Friday and fully closed on Monday.
On Tuesday, the ceremonies will move to Qom, located south of Tehran, where a senior Shia cleric will lead funeral prayers at Jamkaran, a significant and symbolic religious site in Iran.
Regional Ceremonies and International Participation
Members of the Basij paramilitary forces gather on the day international delegates participate in a farewell ceremony
On Wednesday, Khamenei's body will be transported to Najaf in Iraq. Following a procession at the shrine of Imam Ali, the first imam in Shia Islam, ceremonies will continue in Karbala before the body returns to Iran.
Iranian officials state that the events in Iraq are held at the request of Iraqi groups. Analysts interpret these ceremonies as indicative of Khamenei's influence throughout the Shia Muslim world and Iran's religious and political connections across the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Baghdad to coordinate arrangements, emphasizing the funeral's "symbolic importance."
On Thursday, the burial will take place in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace, at the Imam Reza Shrine. This mausoleum is dedicated to Shia Islam's eighth imam and is Iran's most significant pilgrimage site, attracting millions annually.
Representatives from various countries are expected to attend, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Extended Commemorations and Leadership Questions
Ceremonies will continue nationwide for 40 days, with commemorative events planned up to the first anniversary of Khamenei's burial.
Volunteers prepare bread in a designated cooling and rest area next to the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla
Khamenei was succeeded by his son, Mojtaba, who has not appeared publicly since assuming the role of supreme leader.
Key questions surrounding the ceremonies focus on whether Mojtaba will attend the funeral.
"Any decision on Mojtaba's attendance would be announced by the offices of the armed forces commander-in-chief and the supreme leader," said Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, secretary of the organizing committee.
Uncertainty also remains regarding who will lead the funeral prayer, a role of considerable religious and political significance in Shia tradition.
