A nationwide funeral procession for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, began in Tehran on Monday, drawing millions of mourners as the country continues a six-day funeral programme across five cities.
Khamenei was reportedly killed on February 28 during the first wave of airstrikes that marked the outbreak of the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
He was succeeded as Supreme Leader by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The procession follows two days of public mourning ceremonies, during which participants voiced strong anti-American sentiments, including calls targeting U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian commended the conduct of mourners, saying the massive turnout demonstrated continued public support for the country’s Islamic Republic and its political system.
The coffins of Khamenei and members of his family who were also killed in the strikes are being transported in a 12-hour procession to Mehrabad International Airport.
Authorities have shut down major roads and closed the country’s airspace since national mourning began on Saturday to facilitate the funeral activities.
The funeral ceremonies are expected to conclude on Thursday with Khamenei’s burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
The ongoing ceremonies have drawn comparisons with the 1989 funeral of Iran’s founding Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, which descended into chaos after millions of mourners overwhelmed security arrangements. Authorities at the time were forced to use a helicopter to transport Khomeini’s body for burial after crowds surged around the funeral vehicle. The incident reportedly left at least eight people dead and more than 10,000 injured.
Several senior Iranian officials who have remained out of public view since the conflict began also appeared during Monday’s procession. Among them were former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, and Esmail Qaani, who heads the Guards’ Quds Force.
Authorities said the funeral procession has so far proceeded without major incidents, crediting extensive planning and the efforts of state agencies and volunteers who provided food, shelter and logistical support for the large crowds. Unlike previous state funerals that witnessed deadly stampedes, officials reported no fatalities during the current ceremonies.
