Funeral Prayers for Khamenei to Be Held in Three Cities
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Extensive preparations are underway surrounding the funeral prayers and burial of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities have announced that official mourning ceremonies and funeral prayers will be held in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. It is estimated that between 15 and 20 million people may gather in the capital, Tehran, for these events.
The information was confirmed on Tuesday by IRNA, quoting Tehran’s Deputy Mayor for Social and Cultural Affairs, Mohammad Amin Tavakkoli-Zadeh. He said that in accordance with Khamenei’s wishes and after consultations with his close associates, he will be buried at the shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
Tavakkoli-Zadeh added that requests are coming in from various provinces to organize funeral prayers and memorial gatherings. These programs are likely to be held toward the end of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. The farewell and mourning events are expected to last three days, and the funeral procession in Tehran may continue for at least 24 hours.
According to him, large numbers of people from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and the Kashmir region, as well as from other countries and regions, are expected to participate in the ceremonies.
Iran has stated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Several top military and government officials were also reported to have been killed in the attack.
In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on various Israel- and U.S.-linked targets in Israel and the Gulf region. At the same time, Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil transportation.
To prevent further escalation, a ceasefire came into effect on 8 April through Pakistan’s mediation. Although subsequent talks in Islamabad did not yield a permanent solution, both sides continue to exchange proposals and counterproposals aimed at de-escalation and resuming direct dialogue. (Source: Anadolu Ajansi)
