Khamenei funeral procession begins in Tehran as huge crowds expected

The funeral procession for Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei began in Tehran on Monday, state television reported, as authorities worked to avoid the deadly chaos of his predecessor's 1989 burial.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said on Telegram that the procession for the "revered body of the martyred Imam and leader" started and drew a massive crowd of mourners.

How many people are expected at Khamenei's funeral procession?

Iranian officials have not confirmed an exact attendance figure for Monday's procession, but comparisons are being drawn to 1989. About 10 million people attended the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that year, according to state news agency IRNA. That funeral ended in crowd surges that killed more than 10 people and injured over 10,000.

When did the Khamenei funeral procession start?

State television reported the procession began Monday morning in Tehran, following two days of mourning at the Grand Mosalla complex. Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The procession was expected to last 10 to 12 hours before concluding for the day.

What happened during the mourning period before the procession?

Thousands filled the Grand Mosalla on Sunday to pay respects to Khamenei and four family members, all killed in Israeli airstrikes based on U.S. intelligence. Massive concrete walls separated the public from the coffin to prevent a stampede.

It remains unclear how close the public will get to Khamenei's body during the procession. Authorities are wary of a repeat of 1989, when mourners stormed Khomeini's vehicle and forced officials to fly his body to burial by helicopter after his shroud tore. The funerals also give Iran's leadership a chance to project strength after five weeks of war with Israel and the United States.

Where is Mojtaba Khamenei during his father's funeral?

Mojtaba Khamenei, named supreme leader shortly after his father's killing, has not appeared in public since. Officials say he was wounded in the airstrikes, though the severity of his injuries is unclear. Three of Ali Khamenei's sons made a rare public appearance at Sunday's funeral, which only underscored Mojtaba's continued absence.

Parliament speaker and chief U.S. negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, now one of the most visible figures of the post-Khamenei era, praised the turnout on X. He described it as proof of a unified nation honoring its "martyr."

Which Iranian officials have appeared at the funeral events?

Ahmad Vahidi, the new commander of the Revolutionary Guards, appeared publicly for a second time on Sunday. His predecessor was killed on February 28, and Vahidi had stayed out of sight throughout the war. Esmail Qaani, the low-profile head of the Guards' Quds Force, also made a rare appearance.

Not everyone has shown up, though. None of President Masoud Pezeshkian's surviving predecessors, several of whom had tense relations with Khamenei, have been seen at the ceremonies so far. The government has also used the events to highlight public support following a deadly crackdown on protests in January.

Where will Khamenei be buried, and when?

Monday's Tehran procession will be followed by similar events in Qom on Tuesday and in Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday. Khamenei will be buried Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran. The six-day schedule mirrors the extended mourning period held for Khomeini in 1989.

Could the war between Iran, Israel and the US resume?

The wider Middle East war remains on hold under a ceasefire and an initial accord with the United States, though both Washington and Tehran say they are ready to resume military action if needed. Revenge has been a central theme at the funerals. "The killers must face punishment," a 38-year-old mourner who gave his surname as Miremadi told AFP on Sunday.

A 39-year-old woman identified only as Bakand echoed that sentiment, saying mourners wanted justice for their lost loved ones. Khamenei spent decades backing anti-U.S. and anti-Israel groups across the region, including Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which sent delegations to the funeral.