Millions flood Tehran streets for Khamenei's funeral procession

Millions of mourners flooded the streets of Tehran on Monday, July 6, to take part in the funeral and mourning procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Authorities believe the turnout could surpass the record set four decades ago during the funeral of Khamenei's predecessor.

While officials have not yet announced an official count, AFP photos showed a vast sea of people filling Tehran's main thoroughfares. Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the Middle East war on February 28. After lying in state for two days at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran, his body was brought through the city's streets on Monday. AFP photos showed the coffin being showered with flower petals as it passed through the streets.

Iran sees this final farewell as an opportunity to demonstrate its strength to turn around following the five-week war with the US and Israel. However, attention is now on Khamenei's successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since assuming power.

The entire country came to a standstill on Monday to honour the former supreme leader, with Tehran's airspace also closed. Mourners waved Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah flags alongside red flags, a symbol of revenge. According to state media, many gathered at Imam Hossein Square in eastern Tehran and burned effigies of US President Donald Trump.

Local media reported that former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also seen taking part in the procession. Water was sprayed from trucks to cool the grieving crowds in the intense heat. Organisers distributed Iranian flags and pictures of Ali and Mojtaba Khamenei. The procession stretched over approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles).

On Sunday, thousands had gathered at the Grand Mosalla to pay tribute to Khamenei and four members of his family killed in the attack. Large concrete walls were placed to separate the coffin from the public to prevent stampedes and crowding. After Monday's procession, similar mourning processions will be held in the religious centre of Qom on Tuesday, and in the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday. The formalities will conclude on Thursday with burial in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace in north-eastern Iran.

Source: TRT World