Iran has postponed a major mourning ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s late supreme leader, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike over the past weekend, saying preparations were needed to handle what officials expect will be an unprecedented turnout.
The state broadcaster of Iran said the farewell ceremony, which had been scheduled for Wednesday evening in Tehran, would take place at a later date.
“The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later,” Iranian state television reported.
Authorities had earlier said the tribute would be held in the Iranian capital, before Khamenei’s body was transferred to the holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace, for burial.
Organisers said the decision was taken partly because of the anticipated scale of public participation.
“The expected participation of millions of people and the need to provide the proper infrastructure” required more time to prepare, Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, told the state media.
The council is responsible for coordinating the national mourning events following Khamenei’s killing at the age of 86.
Iran’s state media had already announced a 40-day national mourning period after the longtime leader was killed on Saturday.
MOURNING CROWDS GATHER IN TEHRAN
Thousands of mourners gathered in central Tehran in the days following the strike, according to journalists on the ground.
Many wore black and waved Iranian flags while holding photographs of Khamenei. Crowds in Enghelab (Revolution) Square chanted slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Iranian authorities are preparing for a turnout that could rival the massive crowds seen at the funeral of Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, whose 1989 burial drew millions.
CONFLICT CONTINUES TO ESCALATE
Meanwhile, missile and air attacks have continued to hit Tehran and other strategic locations since the weekend, targeting military and government facilities.
In one of the latest developments, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, reportedly killing dozens of personnel, as the confrontation widened beyond the Persian Gulf.
US officials say Iran’s missile capabilities are rapidly diminishing. Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tehran has fired fewer ballistic missiles in recent days, indicating its military capacity has been weakened.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington and its allies were maintaining pressure on Iran.
“This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. “We are punching them while they’re down.”
(With inputs from agencies)
