20 Million Mourners Expected as Iran Begins Six-Day Funeral for Khamenei
Iran has begun a massive, week-long funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, with officials expecting between 15 and 20 million mourners to attend.
Khamenei’s body lay in state on Friday in a vast hall at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, where clerics, officials, and foreign dignitaries paid their respects [188220][188223]. The site will open to the public on Saturday morning, marking the start of a six-day ceremony that authorities describe as the largest gathering in Tehran’s history [187669][188223].
The 86-year-old supreme leader was killed on the first day of the US-Iran war when US and Israeli bombs struck his compound in central Tehran [186112][188220][187293]. His funeral was initially delayed due to the height of the conflict [186112]. It now takes place as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the fighting [186112][188242].
Officials expect the funeral to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, a show of power aimed at demonstrating strength both at home and abroad [186348][188210][187669]. Giant portraits of Khamenei now hang from the Grand Mosalla as workers rush to complete preparations [186112]. The burial comes nearly four months after his death [188242].