TEHRAN – Official ceremonies in Iran reportedly linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have begun, with thousands of mourners gathering at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, according to local and state media reports.
Footage broadcast on Iranian state television showed a casket displayed within a glass enclosure during the proceedings, which were also reported to include symbolic red banners associated with calls for retaliation.
Large crowds dressed in black were seen filling the streets leading to the venue, while others gathered inside the complex to take part in the mourning events.
Reports from local media and online videos indicated that significant numbers of people continued to arrive at the Grand Mosalla as the ceremonies progressed, with metro stations in Tehran also crowded as mourners made their way to the site.
Separately, a research fellow at the University of Tehran, Mohammad Eslami, was quoted as saying that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may avoid attending public funeral events due to security concerns linked to possible threats.
He suggested that fears over potential Israeli aggression were influencing security arrangements around high-profile figures, AlJazeera reported.
In a related political development, US President Donald Trump said that Iran was eager to reach an agreement with the United States. He also claimed that Washington had allowed a temporary pause in operations during the funeral period, describing it as a gesture of goodwill.
