On Tuesday, a massive crowd filled the streets of Qom, south of Tehran, for the fourth day of funeral proceedings for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This follows the participation of millions in a farewell ceremony in the Iranian capital.
Khamenei's coffin, after being killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, was placed in Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, a city known for its prominent Shia religious schools and numerous shrines.
Aerial footage broadcasted by state television showed the city streets, which house approximately 1.5 million residents, packed with participants in the ceremony.
During prayers led by 93-year-old Abdullah Javadi Amoli, the large crowd chanted "Death to America!", a slogan frequently echoed during official events in Iran.
Additional footage showed individuals, including turbaned clergy, bidding farewell to Khamenei's coffin alongside those of several family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, as reported by Iranian authorities.
On Monday, massive crowds took to the streets of Tehran to join Khamenei's funeral procession— a demonstration of strength and unity by authorities, following six months of popular protests against the government and rising living costs.
The sight of vast crowds in Tehran reminded many of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s farewell in 1989.
The funeral procession is scheduled to head to Iraq on Tuesday, visiting the shrines of Imam Ali in Najaf and Imam Hussein in Karbala, before returning to Iran, where Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad, beside the shrine of Imam Ali Reza.