Iran Mourns Ayatollah Khamenei with National Ceremonies

Iran honors Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with funeral events expected to draw millions as the nation enters days of mourning and ceremonies.

Iran has initiated several days of public mourning and funeral processions for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes by the US and Israel in February. His body is currently lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, ahead of burial planned in his hometown of Mashhad next Thursday.

Iranian officials estimate that between 12 and 20 million people are expected to participate in the ceremonies, dubbing this the “funeral of the century.” As of Friday, footage displayed Khamenei’s coffin adorned with the colors of the Islamic Republic being carried at the Grand Mosalla.

Among those paying their respects were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the Afghan Taliban.

The mourning process will officially commence at 06:00 (03:30 BST) on Saturday at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla, allowing visitors to pay their respects until Sunday afternoon. An official ceremony is set for Saturday, led by the Tehran-based Mohammad Rasulullah Corps. Commander Hassan Hassanzadeh noted that Khamenei’s coffin would be raised on an elevated platform with a design enabling visitors to enter and exit within 15-20 minutes.

For three days, Khamenei’s body will lie in the Grand Mosalla alongside family members who also fell victim to the US and Israeli strikes. Authorities have decreed a closure of public and private offices in Tehran from Saturday through Monday, and traffic restrictions will limit access in the city center. Additionally, Tehran’s airspace was partially closed on Friday and will be completely shut down on Monday.

On Tuesday, the processions will move to Qom, where a senior Shia cleric will lead funeral prayers at Jamkaran, a prominent religious site. Following this, Khamenei’s body will make its way to Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday for additional ceremonies at the shrine of Imam Ali, which will symbolize his extensive influence in the Shia Muslim world.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is coordinating with Iraqi officials for the funeral arrangements, stressing its “symbolic importance.” Afterward, on Thursday, Khamenei will be interred in Mashhad at the Imam Reza Shrine, a major pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims.

Commemorative events are set to continue for 40 days, culminating in observances leading up to the first anniversary of Khamenei’s burial. Following his death, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, succeeded him, but has not made public appearances since assuming the role of supreme leader. Uncertainties linger regarding whether Mojtaba will participate in his father’s funeral.

Long-standing tensions between Iran and the US escalated following the airstrikes on February 28, which have significantly influenced regional politics. Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions, questions arise regarding Iran’s leadership and its strategies moving forward.