Report: Iran Prepares for Up to 3,000 Deaths at Khamenei Funeral

Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility of mass casualties during the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a German media report. The report, published by Die Welt, cites a classified letter from the Iranian Red Crescent and the national crisis management body warning of potential deaths from overcrowding and extreme heat as millions are expected to attend.

The preparations include the digging of new graves at Tehran's Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, setting up temporary hospitals near the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, and placing medical teams on full standby. The report quotes a municipal employee as saying that up to 3,000 deaths would be manageable. These claims have not been independently verified.

Authorities anticipate up to 20 million mourners could gather in Tehran alone, though this figure has not been independently confirmed. The funeral processions began on Saturday and will travel through Qom in Iran, then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before the burial in Mashhad. To manage the crowds, the city has arranged free public transport, round-the-clock metro and bus services, temporary kitchens, and accommodation in schools and mosques.

Safety concerns are heightened due to past incidents. In 2020, a stampede during the funeral of military commander Qasem Soleimani killed at least 56 people. In 1989, similar chaos during the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led to deaths and injuries. The current funeral also takes place amid a fragile ceasefire and political tensions within the country.

The Iranian government's foreign media department released images of graves being prepared, originally reported in connection with a strike on a school in Minab, but those are unrelated to the funeral preparations. The focus remains on ensuring safety during the massive gatherings expected over the coming days.