Iran Begins Six Days of Funeral Ceremonies for Late Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran officially commenced six days of public funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, state television reported. Thousands of mourners, many carrying red banners symbolizing vengeance, filled the courtyard of Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex awaiting Khamenei's coffin. The coffin will lie in state until Monday before being transported to Qom, neighboring Iraq, and finally buried in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday. Security measures will lead to airspace and street closures in cities where the coffin is displayed. The ceremonies are attended by international guests, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Vice Chairman He Wei, and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. An Indian delegation and family members of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were also present. Attention is also focused on whether Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly succeeded his father, will appear publicly, as he has not been seen for months. A high-ranking IRGC general, Ahmad Vahidi, has also reappeared publicly for the first time in months.