Vast crowds gathered for the funeral procession of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, with authorities estimating millions were on the streets in numbers that could rival those of his predecessor’s farewell nearly four decades ago.
Authorities have yet to give an official turnout figure but AFP images showed huge numbers stretching along major boulevards in the Iranian capital.
The ceremonies offer Iran an opportunity to project resilience after five weeks of war with the United States and Israel, although attention remains focused on Khamenei’s successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since taking power.
After lying in state for two days at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, the body of Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the Middle East war on February 28, began its journey through the capital accompanied by massive crowds.
Flower petals covered the coffin as it made its way along the streets, AFP images showed.
Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaos that marred the 1989 funeral of Khamenei’s predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini, which drew an estimated 10 million people, according to state news agency IRNA.
Crowd surges during Khomeini’s farewell killed more than 10 people and injured over 10,000.
“If I am to compare this ceremony to that one, I can say they are not different at all. But the crowd this time seems more enthusiastic,” said Gholamreza Khanbabaei, 58, attending the procession.
Tehran’s airspace was closed on Monday as the country stood still to remember the former leader.
Mourners marched through the streets waving the flags of Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, as well as red flags symbolising revenge.
Others gathered in Imam Hussein Square in eastern Tehran and hanged an effigy of US President Donald Trump, according to state media.
Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was seen attending the procession, according to local media.
In sweltering heat, trucks sprayed mourners with water to cool them, while organisers handed out Iranian flags and pictures of Ali and Mojtaba.
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