On Friday, July 3, the coffin of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah in Tehran, marking the start of mass mourning across the country. The six-day funeral ceremonies are expected to draw millions of people. Khamenei was assassinated on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli attack that triggered weeks of conflict in the Middle East. Ahead of the official funeral programme, Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, aired footage of the flower-covered coffin being brought to the site of the attack during a private ceremony. The coffin was surrounded by mourners, white dove-shaped decorations, red tulips, and green ceremonial displays. Images released by Iranian state media showed the coffin on a stage beneath butterfly-themed decorations, with a flag from the Imam Reza shrine draped above it.
Preparations are underway at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, where the funeral ceremonies will take place. The venue is decorated with black mourning flags, red banners, large portraits of Khamenei, and floral arrangements. Security has been reinforced, with vehicles searched at checkpoints and entry limited to visitors with special permits. The official funeral programme will continue in Tehran on July 4 and 5, followed by the main funeral procession on July 6. The ceremonies will then move to Qom on July 7, and memorial events will be held in Baghdad, Najaf, and Karbala on July 8. The final funeral and burial are scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
Leaders and officials from over 30 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Cuba, are expected to attend the memorial ceremony. Estimates suggest that between 15 and 20 million people could attend the ceremonies, making them potentially the largest state funeral in Iran’s history. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has urged Iranians to participate in large numbers, calling for a gathering that sends a message demanding vengeance for Khamenei’s death.
Image for illustration purposes only
đź“° Source: Siasat Gulf