Iran readies massive funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, crowd of 20 million expected

Iran's government has announced a three‑day state funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on 28 February in a strike attributed to the United States and Israel. The rites are planned for the third week of June, although an exact date has not yet been set. Deputy mayor Mohammad Amin Tavakoli‑Jadeh detailed that processions will move through Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, with the main ceremony in Tehran lasting over 24 hours. Officials estimate that up to 20 million people could gather in Tehran, and they are preparing extensive accommodations and crowd‑control measures. Khamenei’s son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was named his successor but has remained out of the public eye since assuming the role.