The small coffin of a 14-month-old girl, draped in the Iranian national flag, sits beside that of the former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran's Grand Mosalla. Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani was killed alongside her grandfather and other family members in joint US-Israeli strikes in February – strikes that precipitated a major regional war and now, more than four months later, have triggered what Iranian authorities call the “funeral of the century”.
Up to 20 million mourners are expected to attend six days of ceremonies, with Khamenei's body lying in state until Saturday, when an official funeral will be led by the Mohammad Rasulullah Corps. Commander Hassan Hassanzadeh said crowd flows were designed to allow visitors to enter and leave within 15 to 20 minutes. Tehran's public and private offices have been ordered closed from Saturday to Monday, and traffic restrictions will shut down most of the city. Airspace has been closed over the country.
“Iran begins funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei, with up to 20 million mourners expected, amid warnings against attack.”
Iran has warned the US and Israel against any attack during the funeral. Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the “enemies of Iran” should avoid a “miscalculation” or face harsh retaliation. The warning comes as a fragile ceasefire holds after a preliminary deal between Iran and the US to halt their conflict.
Foreign dignitaries have arrived to pay respects, including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, and representatives from China, Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was also in attendance.
On Friday night, US President Donald Trump acknowledged the mourning, telling a crowd at Mount Rushmore: “We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice.” He added that the US “knocked the hell out of Iran” and that the country was “dying to settle” as negotiations continue.
State television broadcast images of thousands dressed in black, waving Iranian flags and red banners – a symbol of revenge – while chanting “death to America” and “revenge, revenge”. Qom Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi said the public turnout would be “another referendum for the Islamic Republic”.
Iranians remain divided over the funeral, with some mourning the loss and others expressing anger. Khamenei's body will be buried in his hometown of Mashhad next Thursday.