A mass funeral prayer for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was held in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Sunday. Thousands of mourners gathered at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque to pay their final respects to the late leader. The ceremony marked the beginning of Iran’s official funeral events, which are expected to continue for several days.
The funeral prayer was led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior military commanders, political leaders, and religious scholars also attended the ceremony. Many mourners waved Iranian and red flags as they gathered inside the large prayer complex. Water sprinklers were used to help people cope with the hot weather during the public farewell.
The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral will continue with a major public procession through Tehran on Monday. Millions of people are expected to take part as the coffin moves through the capital.
After the Tehran procession, the funeral rites will continue in the religious city of Qom on July 7. On July 8, the body is scheduled to travel to Baghdad, Najaf, and Karbala in Iraq. Religious and political leaders are expected to receive the coffin before it is taken to important Shia holy sites.
The final funeral ceremony and burial are scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Ali Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown and one of the holiest places in Shia Islam.
The funeral has attracted worldwide attention because of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s political and religious influence and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.