Mass Funeral Begins for Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

A massive six-day funeral procession has begun for Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, drawing thousands of mourners to Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque. Attendees, some having traveled for hours and carrying flags, waited through the night to enter the grounds, signaling a profound sense of national loss and a desire for retribution. Khamenei's 37-year tenure concluded in February with an airstrike attributed to the US and Israel. This strike reportedly claimed the lives of several family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter. The funeral's elaborate staging, featuring a giant screen displaying Khamenei's coffin alongside images of other family members lost in the raid, underscores the personal and political tragedy. By 8 a.m. on Saturday, the open-air mosque was filled with over 10,000 people, segregated by gender. The sheer scale of the event, with an estimated 30 million people expected to participate, is designed to project political and religious messages of resistance globally. Khamenei's body will also be transported through the Iraqi Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf at the request of Iraqi politicians. Amidst religious music and songs, many men were seen openly weeping. Reporters documented the scene for social media, while officials urged mourners to avoid lingering to prevent dangerous overcrowding. Banners proclaiming Khamenei's martyrdom and his historical significance adorned the streets, interspersed with Hezbollah flags and Iranian national colors. Food stations offered free refreshments, and opportunities for charitable donations were available. School students invited attendees to pose for photos with a picture of Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's son, who was reportedly severely injured in the same strike.