Iran is preparing for what authorities say will be the largest state funeral in the country's history for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28.
The six-day funeral ceremonies will take place across five cities in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, drawing millions of mourners and dozens of foreign dignitaries.
The ceremonies will begin on Saturday, with Khamenei’s body lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla prayer complex. A funeral procession through the Iranian capital is scheduled for Monday before the cortege moves to the holy city of Qom on July 7.
The procession will then continue to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before Khamenei’s body is returned to Iran for burial in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Iranian authorities expect between 15 and 20 million people to attend the ceremonies, with mourners travelling from across the country and abroad. Security has been significantly tightened, and police have declared a state of high alert ahead of the funeral.
Senior government officials and representatives from more than 30 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Georgia and Cuba, are expected to attend. Religious leaders from around 90 countries are also expected to participate.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed he will attend the funeral after previously announcing his participation during an address to the Pakistani parliament. His visit comes as Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the US-Israel conflict.
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