Millions Expected to Gather as Iran Begins Mourning Khamenei's Death
About 15 million people are expected to gather in the days ahead to mourn the loss of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The days-long procession is happening as the war with the U.S. and Iran rages on. Here is a look at the funeral processions and how it is impacting the ongoing truce talks with the U.S.
Iran Mourns Leader Killed by U.S. and Israeli Forces
The nation of Iran is mourning the loss of Khamenei with a variety of somber events taking place in the coming week. Crowds gathered outside the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran on Saturday for the start of the public funeral ceremonies. The mosque opened its doors to the public this weekend so that people could say their goodbyes to Khamenei and several members of his family. The former leader and his family were killed in joint U.S. and military strikes at the end of February.
Several coffins were on display at the mosque, including one for Khamenei's 14-month-old granddaughter. While the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla was the center of Saturday's events, officials confirmed that services are expected to happen at several different locations throughout Iran and Iraq this week. For example, the provinces of Qom in north-central Iran and Mashad in the northeastern corner of the country are also hosting formal funeral services.
Bystanders described the mood on Saturday as sorrowful. Shia Muslims are known for their outward expressions of grief. This sentiment was on full display as the mourners gathered with tears running down their cheeks.
In addition to the feelings of sorrow, some of the mourners also expressed a desire for revenge. The U.S. and President Donald Trump were the targets of this anger.
Officials from all corners of the world are attending the funeral. These include leaders from India, China, and more. Also in attendance for the services were Iraqi President Nizar Amidi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said that commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi made an appearance on Friday at Kahmenei's casket. It is rare that Vahidi appears in public, speaking to the magnitude of these funeral processions.
Groups of foreign pilgrims from various areas of the Middle East are also making their way to Tehran for the final rites. Iran's health ministry has been preparing for the funeral for weeks, adding temporary hospitals near the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla. Medical teams are on standby to assist with the growing crowds. The Tehran Municipality said that over 2.2 million people used Tehran's metro system on Saturday as people crowded into the city to pay their respects.
Looking ahead to the rest of the service plans, the main funeral procession will start early Monday morning. The 6.2-mile procession will travel from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square. Prayers are scheduled for Tuesday at the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom. Khamenei’s body will be transported to the city of Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday, where it will be met with an official reception attended by Iraq's top government officials. The body will then be flown to the Shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, before being transported back to Iran. Khamenei will be laid to rest on Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, known as one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites.
How the Period of Mourning is Impacting the War in the Middle East
Iran's Civil Aviation Organization announced that the airspace over the capital city of Tehran will be closed on Monday due to the funeral procession. The ongoing memorial events are giving both sides of the conflict in the Middle East the chance to pause. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday at Mount Rushmore that the U.S. is going to give Iran "a week off for a funeral, because we're nice." The president went on to say that "They're dying to settle; they want to settle so badly."
Leaders in Iran also confirmed that they are pausing the negotiations with the U.S. for the multi-day funeral. The nation's military issued a warning to both the U.S. and Israel, telling them not to engage in "any miscalculation" during this time of mourning.
Meanwhile, it is still unclear where Iran's new supreme leader has been. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, adding to the mystery of who is in charge of Iran during this time of crisis. Although the government has provided details for the events dedicated to honoring the slain leader, none of these plans include the new leader.
Some people believe that Mojtaba was injured in the attack that also killed his wife and parents. It is being reported that Mojtaba has been in hiding since the start of the war, using written statements shared by Iranian media sources to communicate with the nation.
Born in 1939 in the holy city of Mashhad, Khamenei is distinguished as only the second leader of the Islamic Republic. He was also the longest-serving leader of the republic. Khamenei was elected on a platform that is significantly hostile to the U.S. and the Western world.
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