Iran has commenced the funeral proceedings for its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the capital, Tehran, on Monday.
Khamenei's coffin, draped with the national flag, alongside the caskets of his family members killed in an airstrike on February 28 at the onset of the conflict with Israel and the United States, will be transported via a truck. The motorcade will traverse the streets of Tehran en route to Mehrabad International Airport.
The Iranian government anticipates large crowds to attend the ceremonies across the city to demonstrate popular support for the government.
Following three days of official and public ceremonies at Tehran's Grand Musalla, which attracted thousands throughout the days and nights offering their final respect to Khamenei and four family members who perished in the February 28 strikes, the procession will proceed through Tehran on Monday in a ceremony expected to be attended by millions.
The procession is scheduled to commence at 6 a.m. (02:30 GMT) and is anticipated to last between 10 to 12 hours, passing through major routes and squares such as Enqelab (Revolution) Street and Azadi (Freedom) Square, according to the organizers.
The authorities have declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays, stating that they expect between 15 to 20 million attendees for the funeral in Tehran alone.
However, Khamenei's funeral procession, marking over 36 years of leadership in Iran, will not be the final farewell as it will proceed to the city of Qom, south of Tehran, for further ceremonies. Following this, the procession is scheduled to make a stop in southern Iraq on July 8 before returning to Iran for the burial in his hometown of Mashhad (northeast Iran) on July 9.
Large crowds gathered Sunday for prayer over Khamenei's body, joined by three of his sons, while the newly elected successor, his son Mojtaba, was absent due to his injury from the war.
In televised images, top Iranian political and military officials and his sons Mostafa, Masoud, and Meysam were seen alongside Khamenei's casket.