Iran has begun a massive, multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with several family members in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28 at the start of the war. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled the Islamic Republic for 37 years, lay in state in Tehran on Friday as clerics, officials, and foreign dignitaries paid their respects.
Authorities expect between 15 million and 30 million mourners to participate in ceremonies spanning five cities, including events in neighboring Iraq, before the leader is laid to rest in his birthplace, Mashhad. In Tehran, thousands gathered at the Grand Mosalla mosque, and the country will be shut down on Sunday and Monday to encourage further participation. The ceremonies feature religious eulogies, Quran readings, and the national anthem.
The funeral serves as a calculated display of resilience and national power following the bruising conflict. Delegations from approximately 30 countries, including Russia, China, India, and Pakistan, have arrived in Tehran. The regime has cast the procession as a symbolic rebuke to the U.S.-Israeli campaign, with some mourners calling for revenge. Negotiations between Tehran and Washington are expected to resume once the tribute concludes.