Tehran, Iran witnessed the start of the funeral proceedings for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, attended by top Iranian officials along with Arab, regional, and international delegations. This comes four months after his death in a U.S.-Israeli strike during the recent regional conflict.
Leading the participants in paying respects to the late leader were Iranian President Masoud Bazeshkian, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, alongside top military figures, including Revolutionary Guard Commander Ahmad Vahidi, who made his first public appearance since the outbreak of the war in February.
The ceremony was also attended by official delegations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt, as well as representatives from Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. Among the international attendees were Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Afghan Taliban's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who led the Moscow delegation.
Iranian authorities enforced strict security and traffic measures across the capital as the six-day funeral proceedings began. There is anticipation surrounding the potential appearance of the new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has so far only issued formal written statements since ascending to the position.