Ali Khamenei’s body arrives in Tehran ahead of funeral expected to draw millions
Millions of people and a group of foreign dignitaries were expected to attend the official ceremony for Ali Khamenei on Saturday, as Tehran’s chief negotiator called for a massive turnout to avenge his death.
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Photos showed Khamenei carrying his coffin, decorated with Iran’s tricolor flag, to the Grand Mosalla, one of the Islamic republic’s most important ceremonial sites.
Others show black-clad crowds at the pre-funeral ceremony, where the coffin is placed in front of a backdrop of floating red flowers and white butterflies.
Preparations for Khamenei’s public funeral, initially postponed at the height of the war, are being made as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary agreement to halt the fighting.
Pakistan, one of the key mediators in the US-Iran talks, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would attend the ceremony. China, Afghanistan and Iran’s neighbors in the Caucasus region also said they would send representatives.
As workers prepared the Grand Mosalla on Thursday, curious bystanders watched as security crews passed cars.
“We are planting flowers and watering the bushes for the farewell ceremony of our martyred guide,” said worker Hossein Moghadassi, who wore a hat and scarf to cover his face as the temperature increased.
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“People will come from all over Iran. There will be huge crowds.”
Tehran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, on Thursday called on “the entire Iranian people to write a magnificent page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence.”
Galibaf, who is also the speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in his statement, “The nation’s call for revenge should ring in the ears of the whole world.” he said.
Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shiites, was killed at the age of 86 in attacks on his compound in the center of the Iranian capital.
He will lie in state for three days in the massive Grand Mosalla, which is covered with banners bearing Khamenei’s images and quotes.
The bodies of the murdered relatives will also be exhibited.
– Multi-city commemorations –
According to officials, 15 to 20 million people are expected to attend the ceremonies, making it the largest state funeral in the country’s history.
Ghalibaf called it “one of the most important moments” in Iranian history.
While the events continue, in addition to Tehran, the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, which will host the later stages of funeral and burial ceremonies, will also celebrate public holidays.
Authorities have ordered public and private offices in Tehran to close from Saturday to Monday, while traffic restrictions will also make large parts of the city center inaccessible for private vehicles.
The airspace over Tehran will be partially closed starting on Friday and completely closed on Monday.
Following the ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, and he will be buried in the mausoleum of Imam Reza in the city of Mashhad, his birthplace in northeastern Iran, on July 9.
It is not yet known whether Khamenei’s son and successor Mojtaba, who has not been seen in public since becoming the religious leader, will be present at the main ceremony in Tehran.
While representatives from approximately 30 countries are expected to attend the funeral, neighboring Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan also flock to the funeral.
