Funeral procession for Iran's Khamenei begins in Tehran, expected to last 10-12 hours: Iranian Media
Tehran, July 6
Iran's state broadcaster Press TV reported that the funeral procession for the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, began on Monday morning in Tehran and is expected to last between 10 and 12 hours as mourners line the route, "the largest public gathering in the country's modern history."
According to Press TV, the procession began at 6 am (local time) from Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex, where Khamenei's body had lain in state for the past two days.
"Organisers expect the procession to last 10 to 12 hours, winding along a 10-kilometre [6.2-mile] route through Damavand Street, Imam Hussein Square, Enqelab Street, Enqelab Square, Azadi Street, Azadi Square, and Shahid Lashgari Highway, located near the Mehrabad airport," Press TV reported.
The Tasnim news agency reported that the vehicle carrying the sacred remains of the killed leader was now ready to enter the funeral procession route.
"The sacred remains of the martyred Imam and other martyrs will enter the funeral procession route in a short while," Tasnim reported.
Tasnim also reported that a massive crowd had gathered at Tehran's Imam Hossein (AS) Square awaiting the arrival of the bodies for the funeral procession.
On Sunday, Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani led funeral prayers for the martyred leader, his son-in-law Dr. Mesbah-ul-Hoda Bagheri-Kani, his daughter Zahra Haddad-Adel, his 14-month-old granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi-Golpayegani, and Seyyedeh Bushra Hosseini-Khamenei.
Press TV said the funeral ceremonies will continue in the holy city of Qom on Tuesday, followed by processions at the shrines of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf and Imam Hussein (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS) in Karbala on Wednesday.
It reported that the burial is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 9, at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, in accordance with Khamenei's will.
According to Press TV, delegations from scores of countries, including heads of state, prime ministers and senior officials from Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Tajikistan, Turkey and several other nations, arrived in Tehran to pay their respects on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India on Sunday expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India for participating in the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, saying the gesture reflected the "deep historical, cultural, and human bonds" between the two countries.
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain represented India at the funeral ceremony held in Tehran.
Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who also attended the funeral, paid tribute to Khamenei.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, who attended the funeral, also expressed solidarity with Iran.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 this year, triggering heightened tensions across West Asia. Millions of mourners gathered in Tehran for the funeral ceremonies, where Iranian political and military leaders pledged to continue his legacy and vowed accountability for those responsible for his death.
Following Khamenei's death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to Al Jazeera, he is expected to skip the six-day funeral ceremonies due to security concerns amid continued Israeli threats.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see Indian politicians from different parties attending together. Shows how foreign policy can transcend domestic politics. But I'm also worried about what this means for regional tensions—US-Israel strikes have already made things volatile.
Massive crowds in Tehran—reminds me of how we see similar gatherings in India for our leaders. Respect for the dead is universal. But one has to question the security situation with the new Supreme Leader skipping the funeral due to threats. Very tense times.
As an outsider looking in, the scale of this funeral is staggering. 10-12 hour procession across Tehran? That's unprecedented. India's presence makes sense given our energy needs and strategic partnership with Iran. Let's hope diplomacy wins over conflict in the region.
It's sad to see another leader killed in this ongoing conflict in West Asia. India has always stood for peace and dialogue. The presence of leaders from Kashmir like Mehbooba Mufti shows how connected we are to the region. May the departed soul rest in peace. 🙏
Honestly, this is a moment of reflection. The US-Israel strikes that killed Khamenei have escalated things dangerously. India must tread carefully—we have good relations with Iran, Israel, and the US. Balancing all three is like walking on a tightrope. Our diplomats have their work cut out.
T We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.