Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque is today the focus of a vast black-clad crowd, as mourners gather for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader of Iran. Iranian authorities say they expect millions to take part in the commemorations, four months after Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes at the start of the war.
His body is lying in state at the mosque ahead of burial in his hometown of Mashhad, scheduled for next Thursday. Security has been heightened on the streets of Tehran, and airspace has been closed over the country before funeral processions that are due to begin tomorrow.
“Millions are expected to mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed four months ago in US-Israeli strikes.”
Political and religious leaders have been paying tribute, joined by a number of foreign dignitaries from Iran's allies, including Russia, China and Pakistan. The BBC's senior international correspondent, Nawal Al Maghafi, is reporting from Tehran on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service – restrictions that apply to all international media organisations operating in Iran.
While the authorities anticipate a massive turnout, the Channel 4 News foreign affairs correspondent, Secunder Kermani, has noted that Iranians are divided as the funeral begins.