Tehran Urges Massive Turnout for Khamenei's Funeral, Vows Retaliation for Demise

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker, on Thursday called for a significant public presence at the upcoming funeral of Ali Khamenei. He stated that this massive attendance would serve as a form of retaliation for the supreme leader's death, which he attributed to US-Israeli attacks at the onset of the conflict.

Ghalibaf urged, "I invite all the Iranian people… to write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence" at the funeral events scheduled to commence this Saturday. He further emphasized in his statement that "The nation’s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world."

The funeral rites for Khamenei, a revered spiritual leader for numerous Shias, were initially postponed during the peak of the Middle East conflict. These ceremonies are now set to proceed while Iran and the United States maintain a delicate ceasefire, following a preliminary agreement to de-escalate hostilities. Khamenei, aged 86, met his end on February 28, the inaugural day of the war, at his residence located in central Tehran.

The public mourning period will commence on Saturday, with Khamenei's remains displayed at Tehran's immense Grand Mosalla complex. This facility is typically used for significant Friday prayers, state functions, and other religious assemblies. The bodies of his family members who were also killed will be present for public viewing. Officials anticipate that the events will attract an estimated 15 to 20 million attendees, potentially making it the largest state funeral Iran has ever witnessed.

In related news, US and Iranian officials are slated for indirect discussions in Doha, Iran is making preparations for the funeral of its recently deceased supreme leader, and according to Trump, Iran had requested the Doha meeting to take place on Tuesday.

Ghalibaf remarked, "Iran… is preparing to experience one of the most significant moments in its history."

Public holidays have been declared in Tehran and the sacred cities of Qom and Mashhad, which are scheduled to host subsequent phases of the funeral and burial rites. Authorities in Tehran have mandated the closure of both public and private establishments from Saturday to Monday. Additionally, traffic limitations will render large portions of the city centre inaccessible to private transportation. Tehran's airspace will face partial closure beginning Friday, becoming fully restricted on Monday.

After the conclusion of the ceremonies in the capital, Khamenei's remains are slated for transport to the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. His final interment is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his city of birth, located in the northeast.

A point of uncertainty surrounds the main ceremony in Tehran: the potential attendance of Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba. He has not made a public appearance since assuming the role of supreme leader. Meanwhile, delegates from approximately 30 nations are anticipated to be present, alongside a significant influx of mourners from nearby countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.