Iran: Officials from over 100 countries to attend Ali Khamenei's funeral

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Thursday that officials from over 100 countries will attend the funeral ceremonies for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an interview with Iranian state television station IRIB TV, Baghaei said the foreign guests include heads of state, parliamentary speakers, foreign ministers, special government envoys, as well as numerous public figures and community groups. Baghaei described the series of farewell and funeral ceremonies for the late Iranian leader as a “historic and highly significant” event for the Iranian people. He mentioned that the series of honour and farewell ceremonies will commence in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Friday morning local time, attended by various public figures and community groups. The event will then continue in the afternoon with the presence of high-ranking foreign officials and political figures from various countries. In a statement on Tuesday, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister and head of the funeral organising headquarters, said that after Friday’s ceremonies, a farewell procession will be held at the Mosalla Imam Khomeini prayer hall in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, the burial procession is scheduled for Monday and is expected to be attended by large crowds from Iran and other countries in the region. On Tuesday, a ceremony will be held in the city of Qom, central Iran, and on Wednesday, Ali Khamenei’s body will be transferred to Iraq for further ceremonies. He will be buried in the city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on Thursday, Pourjamshidian added. Iranian authorities have announced the closure of various public services in Tehran from Saturday to Tuesday to support the organisation of the ceremonies. The government has also declared Thursday a national day of mourning. Ali Khamenei was killed in a US and Israeli attack in Tehran on 28 February. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was selected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran in March.