Millions of Iranians are bracing themselves for an extraordinary six-day funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose killing in a US-Israeli attack has sent shockwaves across the region. The unprecedented mourning, set to begin on Saturday with a public ceremony at Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque, promises to be a poignant display of national resilience and defiance in the face of global pressure.
As preparations gather pace across Tehran, army vehicles, police roadblocks, stalls, and posters have appeared in every corner of the city. The event is being led by Iran's first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, who has described it as "the most important event of this century" – a claim that underscores its significance not just for Iran but also for the wider Middle East.
The funeral procession will carry Khamenei's body through several key Shia cities in Iraq, including Karbala and Najaf, a gesture requested by Iraqi politicians as a symbol of their close ties with Tehran. This move is part of a deliberate strategy to showcase Iran's regional influence at a time when tensions between the US and Israel are running high.
As preparations reach a fever pitch, the rhetoric has grown increasingly strident, reflecting the deep-seated anger felt by many Iranians towards their enemies. Speaking in an eve-of-funeral message, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator and speaker of the suspended parliament, vowed to "convey the nation's call for bloodshed" and ensure that the world understands that Iran will not remain silent in the face of oppression.
Khamenei, who served as Supreme Leader for 36 years, was killed in a US-Israeli strike on a government residence in Tehran on 28 February. The attack also claimed the lives of his daughter, her husband, and several others, including Mojtaba Khamenei's wife and their 14-month-old daughter. Mojtaba Khamenei, seen as his father's natural successor, is still recovering from the same strike and will not attend the funeral.
The public funeral procession through central Tehran on Monday is expected to attract massive crowds, with many more watching on television around the world. While foreign leaders have been invited to a separate ceremony on Friday, it has emerged that no one from Europe or the US has received an invitation – a snub that reflects deepening tensions between Iran and Western powers.
The funeral had originally been planned for early March but was postponed due to the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. This delay has allowed Iranian officials to redecorate the vast mosque complex, deploy additional security forces, and ensure that every aspect of the ceremony is perfect – a reflection of its significance not just as a national event but also as an international spectacle.