Crowd of Iranians accompanies Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession in Tehran

Millions of Iranians occupied the streets of Tehran this Monday (6) to follow the funeral procession of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, on the third day of ceremonies held after his death during the attacks that started the war in the Middle East. The funeral was scheduled for March, but was postponed due to the conflict.

Authorities expect between 15 million and 20 million participants throughout the tributes. The procession covers around 20 kilometers and should last between ten and 12 hours.

The route passes through Damavand Street, Imam Hussein Square, Enqelab Street, Enqelab Square, Azadi Street, Azadi Square and Lashkari Expressway. The ceremony began at Imam Hussein Square with the playing of the national anthem. Before dawn, participants chanted “O people of the sanctuary, the commander and standard bearer has not returned” and “O my martyr leader, your path continues. O my martyr father, your path continues.”

The crowd carried portraits of Khamenei, Iranian flags and red flags associated with retaliation. There were also shouts against the United States and Israel and posters calling for the “death” of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Everyone talks about revenge,” he told AFP Gholamreza Khanbabaei, 58 years old. “It is necessary, or it will get worse later on.”

Upon reaching the vicinity of Azadi Square, the truck’s movement was stopped to allow more people to reach the procession. Commander Hassan Hassanzadeh informed that, after the end of the procession on land, the body will be taken by helicopter along the entire route for a final farewell.

The procession is accompanied by security forces to avoid incidents like those recorded at Ruhollah Khomeini’s funeral in 1989, when the body fell to the ground after the crowd advanced. At the time, according to the Iranian agency Irnaaround 10 million people attended the ceremony, which ended with more than ten deaths and 10,000 injured.

Tehran’s metro and bus fleet operate at maximum capacity during the event. Teams from the Red Crescent, Fire Department, medical services and security forces have been mobilized since midnight. In the heat, organizers distributed water, food and drinks to participants.

Among those present were the Chief Judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei; the first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref; Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani; Ayatollah Amoli Larijani; and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The ceremony was also followed by international media outlets.

After the end of the tributes in Tehran, the body will go to Qom, then to public processions in Najaf and Karbala, Iraq, and will be taken on Thursday (9) to Mashhad, where Khamenei will be buried.

During the ceremonies, President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on social media that “the martyred leader taught everyone that Iran’s greatest asset is its people and its unity.” The president also wrote that “by acting in accordance with the divine command to ‘stand up for God, in pairs or individually,’ we will continue the path of Iran’s honor, progress and pride through empathy, national consensus and sincere service to the people.”