Iran Officially Begins Six-Day Funeral Procession for Khamenei

Iran has officially begun a six-day public funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state television reported on Saturday morning, with the ceremonies set to continue into Iraq before his burial.

Thousands of mourners carrying red banners, a symbol associated with calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of the Grand Mosalla in Tehran ahead of the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin. They chanted ‘death to America’ and ‘revenge, revenge’, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. Riot police were deployed around the site as the crowds assembled.

Khamenei’s body will lie in state day and night until Monday inside the Grand Mosalla complex, which opened to the public at 6:00 am local time (0230 GMT).

One resident, Somayye Hamedi, was determined to be among the first to approach the coffin of Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack in February. ‘We were told the doors might open as early as tonight,’ said the 44-year-old, wearing a black chador and standing at the main entrance to the Mosalla. ‘We want to bid a final farewell to our leader, so this waiting is neither painful nor difficult for us.’

Hundreds gathered outside the venue, some weeping, while others sat patiently on the pavements. The walls of the Grand Mosalla complex were adorned with large portraits of Khamenei, black flags signifying mourning, and red flags symbolising martyrdom and retribution. A major security operation was deployed around the site, with armed personnel on high alert. Strict security checks were required to approach the funeral site, and no vehicles were permitted within a radius of more than one kilometre.