Iran Plans Six-Day Funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran is commencing a six-day funeral ceremony for its former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack in February. The event, scheduled to begin on Saturday in Tehran and conclude with his burial on Thursday in Mashhad, is designed as a significant demonstration of national power, resilience, and social cohesion, aiming to convey messages of resistance to the global community. This farewell is anticipated to be the most attended event in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's first vice-president and the lead funeral organizer, has characterized the ceremony as "the most important event of this century." The funeral procession will extend beyond Iran's borders, with Khamenei's body scheduled to be carried through the Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf in Iraq, following a request from Iraqi politicians. This international aspect underscores the intended scale and political significance of the event.

Notably, Khamenei's son and presumed successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to attend the funeral. Mojtaba was severely injured in the same attack that claimed his father's life, as well as the lives of his wife and 14-month-old daughter. While the full extent of Mojtaba's injuries remains undisclosed, he has issued written statements, including one that sanctioned ongoing ceasefire negotiations while distancing himself from them. In a separate development, Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, has publicly stated that Mojtaba Khamenei is "marked for death."