Iran has called for a massive public turnout at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorities describing the ceremonies as a show of loyalty to the Islamic Republic and a response to his killing in U.S.-Israeli strikes earlier this year.
Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, urged citizens to attend the funeral rites in large numbers, saying their presence would send a strong message to the world. He said the turnout should reflect what he described as the nation’s demand for vengeance over Khamenei’s death, which occurred at the start of the war between Iran and its adversaries.
The funeral ceremonies are expected to begin in Tehran on Saturday and continue in other cities, including Qom and Mashhad, before Khamenei is buried in his hometown. Iranian authorities are reportedly preparing for one of the largest state funerals in the country’s history, with millions of mourners expected to attend amid heightened security and temporary restrictions on movement and airspace.
Khamenei, who led Iran for more than three decades, was killed in February during joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, a development that plunged the country into mourning and intensified tensions in the region. His funeral comes as Iran remains on edge, with officials warning of retaliation against any further attacks during the mourning period.
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