Iran to hold three‑day funeral for late Ayatollah Khamenei

Iran will hold a three-day state funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies planned for Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, officials announced. The 86-year-old leader was killed on February 28 in strikes on his office and residence in Tehran, an event that occurred on the opening day of a wider regional conflict. Several other family members were also killed in the attack.

The funeral, expected to be one of the largest public gatherings in modern history, could see between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to Iranian state media. A senior Tehran municipality official stated that preparations are underway to accommodate the massive turnout. The main ceremony in the capital is planned to last at least 24 hours, followed by processions in the religious cities of Qom and Mashhad.

Khamenei will be buried at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, fulfilling his final wish to be interred next to one of Shia Islam's most revered figures. Officials noted that Mashhad holds special significance and is expected to draw large numbers of visitors from neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

The scale of the expected attendance has...