Tehran, Jul 05 (V7N) — The first funeral prayer for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran on Sunday, marking the beginning of a series of ceremonies leading to his burial.
The funeral prayer for Khamenei and four of his slain companions was led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque.
Millions of mourners gathered at the mosque from early Sunday to pay their final respects. At around 7:00 a.m., the coffins carrying the bodies were brought into the mosque's courtyard, where emotional scenes unfolded as many mourners wept in tribute to the late leader. Many participants also expressed anger toward the United States and its ally Israel.
Ending speculation over their attendance, three of Khamenei's sons—Mostafa, Massoud, and Meysam Hosseini Khamenei—were present at the funeral despite reported security threats. However, another son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not seen at the ceremony.
Among those attending were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The funeral ceremonies began on Saturday, four months after Khamenei was killed in what Tehran describes as a joint U.S.-Israeli attack. Delegations and representatives from more than 100 countries are participating in the seven-day mourning and funeral events.
Iranian authorities estimate that around 20 million people may take part in the nationwide ceremonies. Following events in Tehran, the funeral procession will continue through Qom and the Iraqi holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, before Khamenei is laid to rest in his birthplace, Mashhad, on July 9.
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