Iran begins week of funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran commenced a week of funeral ceremonies for its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday. His body lay in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex, draped in the national flag. Khamenei, who led the country for over three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of a joint United States-Israeli war on Iran. He was 86.

Alongside Khamenei's casket were those of his granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, who also died in the February 28 strike. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and IRGC head Ahmad Vahidi paid their respects. The funeral, initially scheduled for March, was delayed due to the ongoing war.

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According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, so far more than 50 delegations have already paid their respects to Iran’s late supreme leader.

Authorities anticipate millions of Iranians will participate in public mourning and processions. These events are expected to be reminiscent of the 1989 funeral of Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which drew an estimated 10 million people. A public ceremony is scheduled for Saturday in Tehran, followed by processions through holy cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq.

Many world leaders are attending the six days of commemoration. However, Iran has not invited several European countries, with attendees primarily from neutral or friendly states. Over 50 delegations have paid their respects, including the presidents of Iraq, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Georgia, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Invitations were reportedly withheld from nations that directly or indirectly supported the military campaign against Iran.

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Iranians are saying they did not extend invitations to European countries or those who have directly, or indirectly, supported the Israeli and American military campaign on Iran.