Iran prepares for funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran has begun several days of public mourning and funeral processions for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. The 87-year-old cleric, who ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, died alongside several members of his family in an airstrike on his compound. His body, along with the coffins of his relatives including his 14-month-old granddaughter, is lying in state at the Grand Mosala mosque complex in Tehran.

The funeral events, which the Iranian authorities have called the 'funeral of the century', are expected to draw millions of mourners over six days. Officials say up to 20 million people may take part in ceremonies across the country and in Iraq. The processions began with foreign dignitaries from Iran's allies, including Russia, China, Pakistan, and representatives of Hezbollah, paying their respects. On Saturday and Sunday, the public will file past the coffins, and on Monday a major procession will carry the caskets through the streets of Tehran. The body will then be taken to the holy city of Qom, then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, and finally to Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown, for burial on 9 July.

The delay in holding the funeral was due to the 40-day war and the fragile ceasefire that followed. The regime is using the occasion to project unity and strength, but the country remains deeply divided. In January, months before the war, thousands of protesters were killed in a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. Many Iranians who opposed Khamenei's rule will not be joining the mourning.

A major question hanging over the events is the whereabouts of the new Supreme Leader, Mujtaba Khamenei, the late ayatollah's son. He has not been seen in public since the strike that killed his father, and it is believed he was severely injured. His absence has fuelled speculation about his health and the internal power struggles within the regime. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Wahidi, who was also appointed after his predecessor was killed, has now appeared in public after months out of sight.

The funeral comes as Iran and the United States attempt to hold a fragile ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments, remains a flashpoint. Iran has used its control over the strait as a bargaining chip, and the UK and France have offered to help clear mines. President Donald Trump, speaking at US Independence Day celebrations, claimed the US had 'knocked the hell out of Iran' and that Iran was 'dying to settle'. The regime, however, is projecting defiance, with a statue of Khamenei's raised fist installed in Tehran's Revolution Square.