Iran's Khamenei's Funeral Ceremonies Begin
Funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially commenced on Saturday, with thousands of mourners gathering in Tehran as the Islamic Republic seeks to project unity and resilience following his death.
Iranian state television reported that the six-day mourning programme is expected to attract between 15 and 20 million participants in the capital alone. Khamenei, who led Iran from 1989 until he was killed at the age of 86 on the first day of the United States-Israel war with Iran on February 28, will be honoured through a series of nationwide ceremonies.
The funeral proceedings are also being closely watched for any public appearance by Khamenei's son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed Supreme Leader a week after his father's death but has yet to appear publicly.
Thousands of mourners carrying red banners, symbolising vengeance, gathered at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of the arrival of Khamenei's coffin. Chants of "Death to America" and "Revenge, revenge" echoed across the venue.
Speaking to AFP, a university professor identified simply as Reza said, "We came to the funeral because we promised the supreme leader we would stand by him to the very end. For a long time, we shouted that we would sacrifice our lives for the leader, but it was he who sacrificed himself for us."
Another mourner, Javad Akbari, a food-processing plant worker, said, "I never had the chance to see the supreme leader up close, and I regret that. Today, I have come to bid him a final farewell."
Somayye Hamedi, who waited alongside hundreds of mourners outside the complex, added, "We want to say a final goodbye to our leader, which is why waiting like this isn't painful or difficult for us."
Authorities have imposed extensive security measures, including road closures and restrictions on airspace, as Iran prepares for what is expected to be its largest public gathering since the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The coffin will remain in Tehran until Monday before a funeral procession through the capital. It will then be taken to the religious city of Qom on Tuesday, followed by visits to Shia holy sites in neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday, before burial on Thursday in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
Senior Iranian officials who survived the recent conflict attended Friday's tribute ceremony. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was visibly emotional, while Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi also paid his respects after remaining out of public view since the conflict began.
International dignitaries at the ceremonies included Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, representing President Vladimir Putin. Delegations from Hamas, Hezbollah and Afghanistan's Taliban government also attended.
Although hostilities between Iran and the United States have paused following an initial agreement, Iranian leaders maintained a defiant stance.
Addressing mourners, Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf declared, "The nation's call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world."
Iran's Army Chief, Amir Hatami, added, "Israel and the United States will pay for the blood of the martyred leader and all the nation's martyrs."
With temperatures forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius in Tehran, authorities have deployed water tankers along major routes to help cool participants and reduce the risk of heat-related incidents during the ceremonies.
Source: AFP/Punch Newspapers
Tags: #Iran #AliKhamenei #MiddleEast
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