World leaders are set to participate in a multi-day funeral procession for Iran’s late Ayatollah Khamenei, who passed away at 86 during the early stages of the US-Israel conflict in Tehran. Over 100 nations’ representatives will join the initial ceremony today before the procession moves through Iran and Iraq.
The coffin of Ayatollah Khamenei, along with his deceased family members from the war, is displayed ahead of the ceremony starting on Saturday. Notably, European nations allied with the US or Israel did not receive invitations to the event.
The funeral is expected to draw millions of supporters to the streets of five cities across Iran and Iraq to pay tribute to the departed leader. Concerns about overcrowding and potential stampedes have been raised based on past large-scale mourning events in the region.
Various world leaders, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are anticipated to attend the state funeral. Representatives from Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh will also be present.
There is uncertainty regarding the public appearance of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, who was injured in the same US-Israeli attack that claimed his father’s life. Despite Iran’s warnings to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire remains intact.
The funeral proceedings will span several days, with Ayatollah Khamenei’s body being displayed in different cities before his burial in Mashhad. The event is expected to be one of the most significant gatherings since the 1979 revolution, according to Iran’s first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, who is overseeing the funeral arrangements.