Funeral Rites for Ali Khamenei Begin in Tehran

Tehran (ANTARA) - The two-day final funeral rites for the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, began at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla prayer complex in Tehran on Saturday (4/7) morning, attracting large numbers of mourners from across the country.

The remains of the late Iranian leader, along with the bodies of four family members who died alongside him in US and Israeli attacks in late February, have been placed on a platform.

Mourners from various backgrounds carried photographs of the late Khamenei and Iranian flags, while chanting slogans condemning the US and Israel.

Iranian authorities have implemented strict traffic restrictions in Tehran, particularly around the Mosalla area, while preparing various support services to meet the needs of the mourners.

The two-day ceremony follows a tribute held in Tehran on Friday (3/7), where high-ranking Iranian officials and several foreign dignitaries paid their final respects to the late Khamenei.

Following this, the funeral procession will be held in Tehran on Monday (6/7) and is expected to be attended by citizens from both Iran and other countries in the region.

On Tuesday (7/7), a ceremony will be held in the city of Qom, in central Iran. Subsequently, on Wednesday (8/7), Khamenei’s remains will be transported to Iraq to undergo a series of further rituals in the cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Khamenei will be buried in the city of Mashhad, in north-eastern Iran, on Thursday (9/7). The Iranian government has declared that day a national day of mourning.

Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was elected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran in March.