Millions Mourn Khamenei as Iran Launches Week-Long Funeral Ceremonies Amid Regional Tensions

Tehran's Grand Mosalla Overflows With Mourners Paying Final Tribute to Late Supreme Leader

Metro Stations Overwhelmed by Massive Crowds

Khamenei's wisdom, leadership, influence to be remembered for generations: PM Shehbaz

Afghan Taliban and Political Rivals Attend Funeral

Web Desk

TEHRAN: Millions of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday as Iran launched a week-long series of funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an unprecedented display of grief and national solidarity. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Khamenei's wisdom, leadership and enduring influence on Iran and the broader region would be remembered for generations.

The sprawling courtyard of Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla was packed with black-clad mourners waving Iranian flags and carrying portraits of the late leader as religious hymns, Quranic recitations and the national anthem marked the official start of the ceremonies.

State television showed Khamenei's coffin draped in the Iranian flag and topped with his traditional black turban. It was placed alongside the coffins of several family members who were also killed, on a large black platform resembling the Kaaba, Islam's holiest sanctuary in Makkah.

Chants of Revenge Echo Through Tehran

Thousands of mourners chanted slogans condemning the United States and Israel, with calls for justice and revenge reverberating across the vast prayer complex. Videos circulating on Iranian media platforms showed crowds chanting: "Our slogan is one word: Revenge." Others were heard pledging that the late leader's mission and legacy would continue.

Authorities used water misting systems to help people cope with Tehran's summer heat as mourners continued arriving from across the country.

Funeral Procession to Extend Across Major Religious Cities

Iranian officials announced that the late supreme leader's body would remain in Tehran until Sunday evening before being taken to several important religious cities, including Qom, Najaf and Karbala, before final burial ceremonies in Mashhad later in the week.

The coffin was first unveiled before a crowd of emotional supporters, many of whom were seen weeping, beating their chests and throwing flowers toward the bier in scenes broadcast by state television.

On Friday, the body was laid in state in the grand prayer hall dedicated to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

Millions Expected; Schools Open to Pilgrims

Iranian authorities expect more than 10 million people and delegations from over 100 countries to participate in the funeral ceremonies.

To accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims, the Ministry of Education announced that more than 5,000 schools and between 40,000 and 50,000 classrooms nationwide had been opened to provide lodging for visitors.

Government agencies have also arranged transportation, food and temporary accommodation in an effort to facilitate the participation of mourners from across Iran and abroad.

Metro Stations Overwhelmed by Massive Crowds

Tehran's subway stations leading to the Grand Mosalla witnessed extraordinary crowds from the early hours of the morning.

Images and videos shared by Iranian media showed thousands of people gathering outside station entrances, waiting for transport services to open. Metro authorities urged citizens to stagger their journeys due to overcrowding. Many in the crowds chanted: "My dear leader, your path continues."

Pakistan Expresses Solidarity With Iran

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the funeral ceremonies in Tehran and conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

In a statement, the prime minister described Ayatollah Khamenei as a leader whose "wisdom, leadership and profound influence on Iran and the wider region will be remembered for generations."

The Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, senior cabinet members, parliamentarians and other government officials. "Pakistan stands with Iran in this time of grief," the prime minister said.

Afghan Taliban and Political Rivals Attend Funeral

The funeral ceremonies also brought together figures from across Afghanistan's political spectrum. Representatives of the Afghan Taliban, led by Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, attended the event in Tehran.

Several political opponents of the Taliban, including leaders from Afghanistan's National Resistance Front and other political groups, were also present to pay their respects. Their simultaneous participation highlighted the broad regional significance of the late Iranian leader's funeral.

Heavy Security Measures Across Tehran

Authorities imposed extensive traffic restrictions throughout the Iranian capital as millions of mourners converged on the city. Military and police vehicles lined major roads, while members of the Basij volunteer force and security personnel patrolled key locations. Iranian officials also warned against any attacks or attempts to disrupt the funeral ceremonies, underscoring heightened regional tensions.

A Defining Moment for the Islamic Republic

The funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes at a pivotal moment in Iran's modern history. For supporters of the Islamic Republic, the ceremonies represent not only a farewell to a leader who shaped Iran's political and religious direction for nearly four decades, but also a demonstration of national resilience and revolutionary identity.

As millions continue to gather in Tehran and other cities, the week-long mourning period is expected to become one of the largest public commemorations in Iran's recent history, reflecting both the profound emotions surrounding the late leader's death and the uncertain political landscape that lies ahead.