Iran has begun a multi-day funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled the Islamic Republic for 37 years, was killed in February along with several family members during an airstrike at the start of a war with the United States and Israel. On Saturday, thousands of mourners gathered at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, where the flag-draped coffin was unveiled amid religious eulogies, the national anthem, and readings from the Koran.
The commemorations are designed to project the strength and resilience of the Islamic Republic following the bruising conflict. The ceremonies will span various cities across Iran and neighboring Iraq, with the body visiting several of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam before final burial in Mashhad. To encourage maximum participation in the processions, Iranian authorities have shut down the country on Sunday and Monday.
Attendance estimates vary, with authorities anticipating between 15 million and 20 million participants in Tehran alone, while other reports suggest up to 30 million people may attend the delayed events. While huge crowds have thronged the streets beating their chests in sorrow, some observers note that the attendees primarily represent the more emboldened, hardline factions of society rather than broader public attitudes. Many mourners have expressed vows of revenge against the United States and Israel, chanting for retribution as foreign dignitaries gather for the ceremonies.