Iran has begun week-long state funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with massive crowds gathering in Tehran as the country’s leadership urges citizens to remain united during a period of heightened regional tensions.
Thousands of mourners filled the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla prayer complex on Saturday, where Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin was placed in state alongside those of several family members killed in the same attack. State television showed mourners dressed in black waving Iranian flags, reciting prayers and paying their final respects to the leader who ruled the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades.
Iranian authorities say the funeral processions will continue over several days, with ceremonies scheduled in Tehran, Qom and other important Shiite religious centres before Khamenei is laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad later this week. Officials expect millions of people to participate, making it one of the largest state funerals in the country’s history.
Senior government officials used the opening ceremony to call for national unity, describing the funeral as a symbol of resilience following months of conflict. The event comes after Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike earlier this year, an attack that dramatically escalated tensions across the Middle East. Chants condemning the United States and Israel echoed through parts of the gathering as mourners demanded justice for the slain leader.
Delegations from several allied countries are attending the ceremonies, while security has been significantly tightened across Tehran and along the funeral route. Authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel to manage the crowds and safeguard the week-long events.
The funeral marks a defining moment for Iran as the country mourns one of its most influential political and religious figures while preparing for a new chapter under its incoming leadership amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty.
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