TEHRAN, Iran – (Web Desk) Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday as the bodies of Martyr Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members were placed in glass coffins for public viewing ahead of the state funeral scheduled for Sunday.
According to Iranian media, the public visitation is being held at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where mourners have been arriving since early morning to pay their final respects. The funeral prayers are expected to take place after Fajr prayers on Sunday, followed by the official funeral procession.
The main courtyard of the Grand Mosalla was filled with grieving supporters throughout the day, while strict traffic restrictions were imposed across Tehran to manage the large crowds. Many mourners reportedly walked several kilometres to reach the venue, and metro stations witnessed unusually heavy passenger traffic.
The public viewing will continue throughout the day, allowing citizens to offer condolences and bid farewell to the late Iranian leader and his family members.
Iranian authorities expect more than 10 million mourners, along with official delegations from over 100 countries, to attend Sunday’s funeral prayers, making it one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s history.
To accommodate visitors arriving from across Iran, the Ministry of Education announced that more than 5,000 schools and approximately 40,000 to 50,000 classrooms have been opened nationwide to provide temporary accommodation for mourners.
Authorities have also implemented extensive security and logistical arrangements across the capital to ensure the smooth conduct of the funeral ceremonies.
