Iran has launched the first phase of vast funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, with foreign dignitaries and religious figures converging on Tehran’s Grand Mosalla to pay tribute in a display of national unity and international solidarity.
The body of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s predecessor martyred in a US-Israeli strike during the opening salvo of the recent 40-day war was transferred to the sprawling prayer hall early Friday, accompanied by the remains of his companions who fell alongside him. The solemn transfer marks the beginning of a two-day public farewell expected to draw historic crowds.
Watch as the coffin of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei arrives at Tehran's Grand Mosalla ahead of the funeral procession.
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Religious scholars and cultural emissaries from Indonesia and Afghanistan were among the first foreign guests to honor the fallen leader, while representatives of Iran’s recognized religious minorities also attended, underscoring the inclusive nature of the ceremony.
Senior officials and envoys from more than 30 nations including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Georgia, and Cuba have arrived in Tehran to participate in the commemorations, reflecting the late Leader’s far-reaching influence and the global reverberations of his assassination.
📸 Political, religious, and academic figures pay tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
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The public outpouring, commencing Friday, follows an intimate private ceremony held Thursday evening, where families of war victims and relatives of the Leader’s office staff gathered for a final, emotional vigil.
In a stirring appeal, President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Iranians from every walk of life to flood the streets in a monumental show of unity.
“As heroic Iran prepares to bid farewell to the sincere servant of Islam and the Revolution, I invite all people regardless of ethnicity, religion, political taste, or orientation to participate with enthusiasm, dignity, and in historic numbers,” Pezeshkian wrote in a message on X. “Let us demonstrate a lasting image of national unity and loyalty to the lofty ideals of the Islamic establishment.”
Iranian officials project between 15 and 20 million mourners will participate over the multi-day ceremonies a turnout that would rank among the largest funerals in modern history.
The solemn rites will continue through Saturday and Sunday, with the body lying in state at the Grand Mosalla, before a massive funeral procession traverses Tehran on Monday. Subsequent ceremonies are scheduled in the holy city of Qom, followed by processions in Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf in Iraq, culminating in burial in Mashhad on July 9.
Anniversary of Tragedy Amplifies Grief
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi drew a parallel between the Leader’s martyrdom and the downing of Iran Air Flight 655, framing both as enduring testaments to American hostility toward the Iranian nation.
“These days, alongside commemorating the martyrs of Flight 655, the Iranian nation also honors the memory of its martyred Leader,” Gharibabadi wrote on X. He added that the Leader’s martyrdom represents both “the continuation and depth of America’s hostility toward the Iranian nation” and “the enduring resistance of the Iranian people.”
Iran observes July 3 as the anniversary of the 1988 tragedy, when the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 passengers and crew—including 66 children. Iranian officials have long condemned the United States for refusing to issue a formal apology and for later awarding a commendation to the warship’s commander—a decision that continues to fuel outrage nearly four decades later.
As Tehran prepares for an outpouring of grief unseen in recent memory, the convergence of foreign dignitaries and the specter of historical grievances underscore the profound stakes of this moment for the Islamic Republic and its allies worldwide.
Source: Iranian media (edited by Al-Manar)