Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral Procession to Span Six Days, Millions Expected

Iran is set to hold a massive six-day funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, beginning Saturday and concluding on Thursday. The ceremonies will span several cities in Iran, with the leader’s body ultimately laid to rest in his birthplace of Mashhad. The government anticipates millions will attend the events, which will also include processions in the Iraqi holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, making it one of the largest funeral events in the history of the Islamic Republic. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, who chairs the funeral committee, described the procession as the most significant event of the century and predicted it would be the largest gathering since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He stated the funeral is not only a final tribute but also a symbol of national unity and resilience against foreign pressure. Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack in February, and his funeral was postponed from its original March schedule due to the ensuing war. His body will lie in state at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran before being taken to Qom, Karbala, Najaf, and finally Mashhad for burial. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the scale of the funeral is designed to send a political and religious message, declaring that the Iranian nation will not remain silent in the face of oppression. The main procession in Tehran on Monday is expected to draw up to 20 million people along a 10-kilometre route from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square, according to Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani. The ceremonies occur during a 60-day ceasefire with the United States, and officials hope the display of unity will strengthen Iran’s negotiating position. Security measures are extensive, with offices in Tehran closed for three days, traffic restrictions, the capital’s airspace closed for the main event, and fighter jets deployed to guard against potential threats to the millions of mourners.