On Saturday morning, Iran commenced the official funeral procession for the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, initiating a six-day ceremony that includes stops in Iraq before his burial in the city of Mashhad.
Thousands of mourners gathered from the early dawn hours at the Grand Musalla of Tehran, where Khamenei's coffin is laid.
Iranian state television reported the start of the ceremony, as authorities imposed tight security measures and widespread traffic restrictions around the funeral site, while participants continued to arrive at the main square of the complex.
On Friday, Iranian authorities unveiled Khamenei's coffin inside the prayer hall, placed on an elevated platform and adorned with flowers, in preparation for the official funeral ceremonies to begin.
According to the announced schedule, the funeral procession will last six days, including stops in Iran and Iraq, before the burial in Mashhad.
Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike targeting his residence in Tehran, occurring on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.