Iran Begins Farewell Ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran

Iran began its official farewell ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday at Tehran's Grand Mosalla, opening its doors at 6:00 am to thousands of mourners who had waited overnight. The hall echoed with Quran recitations and elegies as people from across the country paid their respects.

Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 36 years killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes on US and Israeli military targets in the region.

According to the official schedule, public ceremonies continue in Tehran through July 5, followed by a funeral procession on July 6. The coffin then moves to Qom, then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before a final burial in Mashhad on July 9.

On Friday, Khamenei's coffin along with those of family members killed in the same strike, lay in state in the hall built to honor his predecessor Ayatollah Khomeini. Foreign dignitaries including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Chinese official and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended.

The funeral comes at a sensitive time for Iran. While authorities are mobilizing mass turnout for the processions, analysts note the Islamic Republic remains deeply strained hit by sanctions, economic hardship, and last January's deadly crackdown on protesters. Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has been named the new Supreme Leader but has not appeared publicly since being wounded in the same strike.

Security remains tight across Tehran with military and police patrolling the capital as Iran warned against further attacks during the mourning period.