By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Vast crowds gathered for the funeral procession of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, with authorities estimating millions 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 images showed huge numbers stretching along major boulevards in the Iranian capital.
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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 — killed on the first day of the Middle East war on February 28 — began its journey through the capital accompanied by massive crowds.
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Flower petals covered the coffin as it made its way along the streets.
Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaos that marred the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which drew an estimated 10 million people. 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.
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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 Hezbollah, as well as red flags symbolising revenge. Others gathered in Imam Hussein Square and hanged an effigy of US President Donald Trump.
Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was seen attending the procession.
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In sweltering heat, trucks sprayed mourners with water to cool them, while organisers handed out Iranian flags and pictures of Ali and Mojtaba.
The procession route covers around 20 kilometres. Three of Ali Khamenei’s sons made a rare public appearance at the funeral on Sunday, further highlighting the absence of Mojtaba, who was named supreme leader shortly after his father’s killing but has yet to appear in public.
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Officials have said he was wounded in the airstrikes but the severity of his injuries remains unclear.
The new commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, and Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force, also appeared at the ceremonies.
The government is eager to tout the mass mobilization in support of the authorities. Vengeance has been a major theme at the funeral.
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Some of Khamenei’s supporters echoed the message of confrontation.
“We want revenge. It must be done. Because later, if it’s not done, it will get worse,” said Khanbabaei.
The procession will be followed by similar events in Qom on Tuesday and in Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, culminating in Khamenei’s burial in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.
The Middle East war is currently on hold following a ceasefire, but both Washington and Tehran have warned they are ready to resume military action.
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