Preparations for funeral of Iran's supreme leader in full swing
Iraqi officials walk near the coffins of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, on the day international delegates participate in a farewell ceremony for Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran, July 3. Reuters-Yonhap
TEHRAN — Preparations for the funeral of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were in full swing on Friday, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony.
Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war, said its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be at the funeral in Tehran on Saturday.
China, Afghanistan and Iran's neighbours in the Caucasus region said they would also be sending representatives.
Workers were readying Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex on Thursday, while security teams stopped passing cars and curious bystanders looked on.
"We are planting flowers and watering the shrubs for the farewell ceremony of our martyred guide," said worker Hossein Moghadassi, clad in a hat and a scarf to cover his face as the temperature soared.
"People will come from all over Iran. There will be huge crowds."
Tehran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had called on Thursday for a massive turnout at the event as a way to avenge the supreme leader's death in U.S.-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war.
"The nation's call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world," said Ghalibaf, who is also Iran's parliament speaker.
Khamenei's funeral, initially delayed at the height of the war, will take place as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the conflict.
Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shias, was killed at the age of 86 in strikes on his compound in the centre of the Iranian capital.
He will lie in state for three days at the colossal Grand Mosalla, which has been draped in banners featuring images and quotes of Khamenei.
The bodies of his slain relatives will also be presented.
Women hold an image of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they walk to pay their respects near the coffins of Khamenei and his family members, on the day international delegates participate in a farewell ceremony for Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran, July 3. Reuters-Yonhap
Multi-city commemorations
The ceremonies are expected to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to officials, which would make it the biggest state funeral in the country's history.
Ghalibaf called it "one of the most significant moments" in Iran's history.
Tehran, as well as the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, which will host later stages of the funeral and burial ceremonies, will observe public holidays while the events are underway.
Authorities have ordered public and private offices in Tehran to close from Saturday through Monday, while traffic restrictions will make much of the city centre inaccessible to private vehicles.
The airspace over Tehran will be partially closed from Friday and fully closed on Monday.
Following the ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei's body will be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before his burial on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, his birthplace.
It remains unknown if Khamenei's son and successor Mojtaba, who has not been seen in public since becoming supreme leader, will be present at the main ceremony in Tehran.
Representatives from around 30 countries are expected to attend the funeral, with people pouring in from neighbouring Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.