Millions of people gathered in Tehran to pay their final respects to the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Iranian media reports, massive crowds began assembling early in the morning, stretching from Damavand Avenue through Imam Hossein and Enghelab squares, all the way to Azadi Square.
Reports from the scene described an emotional atmosphere, with many participants visibly grieving. Mourning music and traditional local melodies were broadcast through loudspeakers installed along the streets. The event drew not only residents of the capital but also citizens from various regions across the country, with some attendees reportedly camping in parks overnight to secure their place in the procession.
Most participants wore black as a sign of mourning, while others chose traditional attire. During the procession, chants against the United States and Israel were also heard. To manage the massive crowds and ensure security, authorities closed several streets to vehicular traffic and organized special bus routes to transport citizens to the event. Organizers distributed water and food, and giant screens were erected throughout the city to broadcast live footage of the ceremony.
The remains of Ali Khamenei and his family members were transported through the crowd in a vehicle designed to resemble the Imam Reza shrine. The official state funeral ceremony was held last Friday at the Imam Khomeini Mosque, attended by high-level delegations from nearly 100 countries.
The funeral procession is scheduled to continue to the cities of Qom, Najaf, and Karbala, with the final burial ceremony planned for July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
The death of a Supreme Leader in Iran marks a significant turning point in the country's political history. As the highest-ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic, the transition of power following such a death is a closely watched event by the international community, given Iran's pivotal role in regional geopolitics and its complex relationship with global powers.
