Iran begins a dayslong funeral for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, following his death in an airstrike earlier in the current war with the United States and Israel. Khamenei, who was 86, is commemorated with state ceremonies that unfold over several days and involve public gatherings in multiple cities. Organizers and Iranian officials describe large expected turnout, with some reports citing estimates of 15 to 20 million people in Tehran alone. Mourners gather at prominent religious sites, including the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, where coffins—along with coffins of family members killed in the same attack—are displayed for public viewing. Reports describe widespread mourning scenes, including people dressed in black, chanting and traditional Shiite mourning practices.

As the funeral proceeds, observers focus on the position and visibility of Khamenei’s presumed successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has reportedly been seen infrequently or not publicly. Iran also takes security measures that disrupt normal life, including shutdowns of streets and airspace in some accounts. The ceremonies culminate with burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace, after additional public mourning rituals.