Massive crowds attend funeral procession of Ali Khamenei in Tehran
Tehran (ANTARA) - Large crowds from across Iran crowded the streets of Tehran on Monday (6/7) to attend the funeral procession of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who died in a US-Israel attack at the end of last February.
The procession, held following two days of final tribute ceremonies at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall in central Tehran, was also attended by a large number of Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezekian, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Head of the Assembly of Experts Ahmad Jannati, Head of the Policy Determination Council Sadeq Amoli Larijani, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, as well as members of the cabinet.
Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also seen at the ceremony, despite previous reports suggesting he had died in the US-Israel attack, according to the semi-official Iranian news agency, Fars.
The procession began at 06:00 local time (09:30 WIB), with mourners accompanying the casket of the late Supreme Leader and his family members, who also perished in the same attack, along a route of more than 10 kilometres starting from Damavand Road in eastern Tehran to Azadi Square and Lashgari Highway in the west of the capital.
Mourners were seen carrying photos of the late leader and waving Iranian flags alongside thousands of red banners symbolising retaliation, while chanting slogans condemning the US and Israel. They called for vengeance for the assassination of their leader and vowed to continue his struggle.
The procession concluded at approximately 17:00 local time.
The two-day final tribute ceremony for the late Supreme Leader began at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall on Saturday (4/7) morning, attracting a large number of citizens from across the country. The two-day event followed ceremonies in Tehran on Friday (3/7), where high-ranking Iranian and foreign officials paid their final respects to the late leader.
On Tuesday, a funeral procession will be held in the city of Qom, central Iran. Following this, the late leader’s remains will be taken to Iraq for a series of further ceremonies in the cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday (8/7).
The Iranian President is scheduled to travel to Iraq to attend these ceremonies, according to the official Iranian news agency, IRNA.
Some Iranian media also reported that the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Mostafa Khamenei, the eldest son of the late leader, will also attend the ceremonies in Iraq. Khamenei will be buried in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday (9/7).
Ali Khamenei served as the Supreme Leader of Iran for nearly 37 years. He was killed in a US and Israel attack in Tehran on 28 February.
His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was elected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran in March.