Arabic version: إيران تقيم جنازة جماعية للزعيم الأعلى القتيل علي خامنئي

Iranians gathered in large numbers for the burial of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad. The burial follows an Israeli strike that killed Khamenei on February 28, marking the end of his more than 35-year rule. Thousands filled the streets of Mashhad, calling for revenge as they braved the sweltering heat.

According to Al Jazeera, the funeral was the culmination of six days of ceremonies across Tehran, Qom, and Iraq, allowing mourners to pay their respects. Mashhad Governor Hassan Hosseini expressed expectations of up to 15 million attendees for the funeral.

The funeral, originally scheduled for 6 a.m. local time, was postponed to 2 p.m. due to delays in ceremonies in Iraq. Khamenei is set to be buried on Thursday evening in the Shrine of Imam Reza, Iran’s most revered site. The funeral prayer will be led by 101-year-old Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani, a conservative figure in the Islamic Republic.

Khamenei will be buried alongside family members, including his infant granddaughter and son-in-law, who were also victims of the February 28 strikes. Observers are closely monitoring the situation, particularly the whereabouts of Khamenei’s son and potential successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the incident.