Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday to attend funeral prayers for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking one of the country’s largest public ceremonies in recent years.
The prayers were held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where senior government officials, military commanders, religious scholars, and citizens from across Iran came together to pay their final respects. The ceremony was led by senior Shia cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani before the funeral procession moved through the streets of the capital.
Iranian authorities declared a public holiday to allow people to participate in the funeral events. Large crowds carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the late leader filled major roads around the venue, while security remained tight to manage the gathering.
The funeral ceremonies are expected to continue over several days, with memorial events planned in different cities across the country before the final burial in Mashhad, the late leader’s hometown. Officials say millions of people are expected to take part in the nationwide mourning.
Leaders and officials from several countries have sent messages of condolence, while some foreign delegations are also expected to attend parts of the funeral ceremonies.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for decades, making him one of the most influential figures in the country’s modern history. His death marks a significant moment for Iran, with the funeral drawing global attention and signaling the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s political and religious leadership.
The funeral prayers reflected both the religious importance of the occasion and the deep national significance attached to the late leader’s legacy.
