The body of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Friday, ahead of a massive state funeral expected to draw millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries. Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, will lie in state for three days at the Grand Mosalla, one of Iran's most important ceremonial venues.
Massive Turnout Expected
Officials expect between 15 and 20 million mourners to attend the funeral, making it the largest state funeral in Iran's history. Tehran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, called for a massive turnout to honor Khamenei and to send a message of vengeance to the world.
International Presence
Representatives from around 30 countries are expected to attend the funeral, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, China, Afghanistan, and Iran's neighbors in the Caucasus region. The event is seen as a significant moment in Iran's history, with Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad observing public holidays during the ceremonies.
Security and Logistics
Authorities have ordered public and private offices in Tehran to close from Saturday through Monday, and traffic restrictions will make much of the city center inaccessible to private vehicles. The airspace over Tehran will be partially closed from Friday and fully closed on Monday.
Funeral Procession
Following the ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei's body will be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before his burial on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, his birthplace. It remains unknown if Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba, will be present at the main ceremony in Tehran.






























