TEHRAN — Iran began days-long funeral ceremonies on Friday for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike at the outset of the war in February, with millions of mourners expected to participate in events spanning multiple cities in Iran and Iraq.
State media reported that preparations intensified in Tehran, where Khamenei's coffin was displayed alongside those of relatives killed in the same strike. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, paid their respects at the Grand Mosalla mosque.
The ceremonies, described by authorities as among the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, are scheduled to run through July 9, culminating in Khamenei's burial in Mashhad. Processions are planned in Tehran, Qom and other Iranian cities, with events also set for Najaf and Karbala in Iraq.
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, the lead organizer, called the funeral "the most important event of this century." Officials anticipate massive crowds, with some estimates exceeding 20 million participants across the multi-day program.
Khamenei, 86, led Iran for 36 years following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He was assassinated on Feb. 28 in Tehran during the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes that ignited the conflict, according to Iranian state media and officials.
Security has been heightened across the capital, with roadblocks, posters and security forces visible. The government has declared a period of national mourning and public holidays in connection with the events.
Foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and representatives from Russia, China and other nations, were reported in attendance for the ceremonies in Tehran.
The funeral comes amid ongoing regional tensions following the war. Iranian military officials have reiterated vows of retaliation against those responsible for Khamenei's death.
Details of the full schedule and crowd numbers remain subject to confirmation as the events unfold.
