Iran Begins Six-Day Funeral Ceremonies for Late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Iran on Friday began a six-day funeral ceremony for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at age 86 on February 28. His body, draped in the Islamic republic's flag with his black turban placed on top, lay in state at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla complex in Tehran.
Top Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, and Head of Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, paid their respects. International dignitaries from around 30 countries, including China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, attended the ceremony.
The Indian delegation included Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, and People's Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir offered prayers, while Afghanistan's Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also attended.
The funeral schedule includes a procession through Tehran on Monday, followed by ceremonies in Qom, holy cities in Iraq, and finally burial on Thursday in Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown. Authorities expect millions to participate. Strict security measures were in place, with no vehicles allowed within a kilometer of the site.
Notably, Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader a week after his father's death, has not yet appeared publicly.
