Daijiworld Media Network - Mashhad
Mashhad, Jul 9: Iran is preparing to bury its slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday, following a week of funeral processions, rallies and mourning ceremonies held across the country and in neighbouring Iraq.
The burial follows days of large-scale public gatherings organised after Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28 during the conflict between Iran and the two countries. Iranian authorities have projected the ceremonies as a display of national unity and resilience amid continuing regional tensions.
Despite a temporary pause in US strikes, hostilities continued as the United States and Iran exchanged attacks for a second consecutive day ahead of the burial.
According to footage released by the official IRNA news agency, Khamenei's remains arrived at Mashhad International Airport after funeral processions in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, claimed that more than 2.3 million people participated in the funeral procession in Najaf alone.
Khamenei's body, along with those of four family members killed in the same airstrike, was also taken through Tehran and the Shia religious centre of Qom. Iranian state media reported that millions attended the funeral procession in Tehran, describing it as one of the largest public gatherings in the country's modern history.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Mashhad on Thursday, carrying Iranian flags, portraits of Khamenei and banners bearing revolutionary slogans. Crowds also chanted anti-US slogans and called for retaliation against US President Donald Trump, whom they blamed for the assassination.
Iran's current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared publicly during the funeral ceremonies. Officials have said he was injured in the airstrike that killed his father, though the extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Iranian state television said the burial ceremony in Mashhad was rescheduled to 2.30 pm local time after larger-than-expected crowds delayed the funeral procession in Iraq. Officials also confirmed that overnight attacks on the Tehran-Mashhad railway line had not affected the burial arrangements.
Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, who headed Khamenei's office, said the late leader had expressed a wish to be buried in Mashhad near the shrine of Imam Reza, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites.