Iran Begins Massive Funeral Procession for Former Supreme Leader Khamenei Amid Power Display

The body of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei arrived in Tehran on Friday morning ahead of his unprecedented funeral scheduled to begin on Saturday. The three-day ceremony, marking four months since his death during the opening phase of the "Roar of the Lion" conflict, is expected to draw 15 to 20 million participants in Tehran alone. Authorities are using the event as a show of strength following a nearly 40-day war that resulted in the deaths of many senior figures and thousands of civilians, according to Iranian claims.

Preparations at the mosque where Khamenei's body will lie in state are underway amid intense heat, with workers and officials expecting massive crowds from across Iran. The large Musalla complex will remain open around the clock until Monday to accommodate prayers and memorial events. The funeral procession will move through Tehran's streets before continuing to the city of Qom on Tuesday. Around 30 foreign dignitaries, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are expected to attend.

Significantly, Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a key figure in Iran's hardline stance during negotiations with the U.S., emerged from hiding to participate in the funeral events. Vahidi, who has not appeared publicly since early February, was seen sitting beside Khamenei's coffin during a private ceremony near the late leader's former residence.

State media reported that Khamenei's coffin was placed on a platform in Tehran, adorned with red tulips, and that families of those killed in recent conflicts have already arrived. Security forces carried the coffin into the "Great Mosque" in Tehran, with authorities planning to close streets, airspace, and suspend normal life in the capital. The final burial is set for July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace.

Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi, leader of Friday prayers in Qom, described the massive public turnout as a referendum on the Islamic Republic. While the government aims to mobilize millions to demonstrate resilience after the war, experts note that public support in Tehran has waned due to economic sanctions and decades of repression. Many Iranians, especially younger generations, are disillusioned, with some avoiding the funeral events altogether. One Tehran resident noted the pervasive presence of Basij forces and the sense that "life has stopped" in the city during the preparations.