Millions of mourners have assembled in Tehran for the start of a six-day, five-city funeral procession for Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February during an airstrike by the US and Israel. The procession began on Saturday and will culminate on Thursday with burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
Funeral Prayers and Calls for Revenge
Guardian correspondent Patrick Wintour reported from Tehran that funeral prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla created a political spectacle blending grief with calls for revenge. The coffins of Khamenei and family members killed in the strikes are being transported to Mehrabad International Airport over a 12-hour journey.
National Mourning and Disruptions
Daily life has halted since national mourning began on Saturday, with authorities closing streets and airspace. The procession follows two days of public farewell ceremonies where attendees called for the murder of former US President Donald Trump. Khamenei was succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Regional Hostilities Continue
Hostilities continue in Lebanon and Palestine. The funeral draws attention to the ongoing conflict triggered by the US and Israeli airstrike that killed Khamenei.
