TEHRAN — Iranian authorities launched days-long funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday under heightened security and extensive crowd-control measures as hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran, with officials seeking to prevent deadly crushes during what is expected to be one of the country's largest public gatherings in decades.
State television showed large crowds converging on the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where Khamenei's casket was placed on public display months after he was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike at the start of this year's conflict. Mourners dressed in black wept, recited prayers and chanted slogans against the United States and Israel as the official mourning ceremonies began.
The funeral is scheduled to continue over several days through multiple cities in Iran before concluding with Khamenei's burial in Mashhad. Iranian officials have said millions of people are expected to participate in the nationwide ceremonies, making crowd management a central concern for emergency services.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed specific contingency plans for crowd-related emergencies. However, reports by Germany's WELT, citing what it described as classified Iranian documents and municipal sources, said emergency planners had prepared for the possibility of mass-casualty incidents, including stampedes or heat-related emergencies, during the processions. Reuters has not independently verified those documents or the reported casualty projections.
The concerns reflect Iran's experience with previous mass public events, where large funeral gatherings have resulted in fatal crowd crushes, prompting officials to deploy extensive security personnel, medical teams and logistical support for the current ceremonies.
The funeral also carries major political significance as Iran's leadership seeks to project unity following the conflict that killed Khamenei and several members of his family. The ceremonies come as the country navigates a fragile post-war environment and international scrutiny over its next political steps.
State media broadcast images of mourners beating their chests in keeping with Shi'ite mourning traditions while senior political and military officials attended the opening ceremonies. The public events will continue across Iran and parts of Iraq before Khamenei's final burial, according to the official schedule.
