Hundreds of Thousands Gather in Tehran for Iranian Leader's Funeral

Tehran is hosting a massive funeral procession for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on February 28. Hundreds of thousands of mourners have gathered to pay their respects, marking the end of his 37-year leadership.

The burial was postponed due to the intense conflict at the time of his death, adhering to Islamic traditions that allow for a delay in such circumstances. Now, four months after his passing, Iranians have the opportunity to bid farewell to their spiritual leader.

Khamenei's body, draped in the Iranian national flag, lies at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran. The ceremony is attended by top Iranian political and military figures, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Representatives from 33 countries, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Asim Munir, as well as officials from Russia, China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, India, and Bangladesh, are also present.

In observance of the funeral, state and private institutions in Tehran have been closed for several days, with significant traffic restrictions imposed on major roads. Security has been heightened across the city, and airspace has been temporarily closed. Following three days of public viewing in Tehran, Khamenei's remains will be transported to Qom, a holy city for Shia Islam in Iran. The procession will continue to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, both significant Shia Muslim holy sites, before the final burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, considered the spiritual capital of Shia Muslims and Khamenei's birthplace.