Iran plans dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei after war death

Iran is preparing for a massive, dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, following reports of his death in a conflict. The country's theocratic government hopes to mobilize millions of citizens to flood the streets of the capital, Tehran, for the ceremonies.

These planned scenes are intended to echo the immense public outpouring of grief seen during the 1989 funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The scale of the planned event suggests the government anticipates a period of profound national mourning and is preparing to manage the significant logistical and symbolic implications of Khamenei's passing.

The preparations also signal the potential for a major succession event, as Khamenei has been Iran's paramount leader since 1989. His death would trigger a process to select a new Supreme Leader, a decision that carries immense weight for the future direction of the Islamic Republic.