Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday to pay their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose funeral has become one of the largest public events in the country in recent years.
Crowds dressed in black filled the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, waving Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei as religious chants echoed through the prayer complex. His coffin, along with those of several family members reportedly killed in the same strike, was displayed for the public after senior officials and foreign dignitaries attended a private farewell.
The funeral comes months after Khamenei was killed during the opening stages of the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States. Iranian authorities have presented the ceremonies as a symbol of national unity and resistance, while security forces have renewed calls for retaliation against those responsible for his death.
The conflict resulted in thousands of casualties across the region and caused widespread damage to military, civilian and energy infrastructure. Although a ceasefire has reduced large-scale fighting, tensions remain high and sporadic attacks continue.
Analysts say the funeral is taking place at a pivotal moment for Iran, with the country’s leadership facing the challenge of maintaining stability following the loss of its long-serving supreme leader. At the same time, some observers believe the conflict has strengthened the influence of hard-line factions within Iran’s political and military establishment.
Funeral ceremonies are expected to continue over several days, with processions planned in Tehran before Khamenei’s remains are taken to the holy cities of Qom in Iran and Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. He is expected to be buried in Mashhad following the final commemorations.