TEHRAN: Funeral ceremonies for Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei officially began on Saturday, drawing vast crowds intended as a show of strength to the Islamic republic's adversaries.
Authorities anticipate 15 to 20 million participants in Tehran alone over three days of tributes. The events mark the start of six days of ceremonies for Khamenei, who ruled from 1989 until he was killed on February 28 during the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Thousands of mourners carrying red banners gathered in the Grand Mosalla complex, chanting "death to America" as significant security measures blocked roads and prepared to close airspace.
The coffin will lie in state until Monday before a procession through Tehran, moving to Qom and then to holy Shia cities in Iraq, culminating in burial on Thursday in Mashhad.
Officials displayed a united front, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visibly tearful. Ahmad Vahidi, newly named chief of the Revolutionary Guards, also appeared. The proceedings are closely watched for any sign of Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
International guests paid respects, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev. Representatives from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Taliban also attended. Officials warned of potential resumption of conflict despite a current truce, with army chief Amir Hatami vowing that Israel and the US "will pay for the blood of the martyred leader".
Authorities took precautions against crowd crushes and extreme heat, deploying water tankers as temperatures soared past 35°C.