Iran has commenced a multi-day mourning period and a series of funeral processions honoring its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This follows his death over four months ago during joint military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel.
Beginning Friday, the former leader’s remains will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla. The burial is scheduled to take place next Thursday in his birthplace of Mashhad. According to reports from AFP, officials anticipate that as many as 20 million people may participate in the funeral services.
These events occur during a period of relative calm, as Iran and the United States maintain a fragile ceasefire established by a preliminary agreement in June. The Grand Mosalla will host the remains of Ayatollah Khamenei and his family members who perished in the February strikes for three days. An official state ceremony is planned for Saturday in Tehran.
To manage the scale of the event, authorities have mandated that both government and private offices in Tehran remain closed from Saturday through Monday. Significant traffic restrictions will prohibit private vehicles from entering the city center, and Tehran’s airspace will face partial closures starting Friday, becoming fully restricted by Monday. After the Tehran proceedings, the body will travel to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq before the final interment in Mashhad. Several international dignitaries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are confirmed to attend. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, has succeeded his father but has avoided public appearances since his transition to power.
