Workers continued preparing Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Thursday for the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Authorities tightened security while decorating the religious complex with flowers, mourning banners, and giant portraits. Meanwhile, officials expect millions of mourners to attend the farewell events.
Grand Mosalla Readied For Massive Public Farewell
Preparations continued despite intense summer heat as workers arranged flowers and maintained the grounds. Security personnel also guarded the complex and checked permits for every vehicle approaching the entrance.
Inside the venue, workers displayed massive portraits of Khamenei alongside black mourning flags. Red flags symbolising martyrdom and vengeance also covered different sections of the complex.
One portrait showed Khamenei during his presidency beside young fighters from the Iran-Iraq War. Worker Hossein Moghadassi said crews had spent several days preparing the site. He added that they planted flowers and watered shrubs for the farewell ceremony.
Trucks delivered hundreds of boxes of drinking water ahead of expected temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Moreover, authorities prepared medical teams, ambulances, and rescue vehicles to assist the anticipated crowds.
Millions Expected As Funeral Events Begin
Officials expect between 15 and 20 million people to attend the funeral in Tehran. The Grand Mosalla will open its gates at 6 a.m. on Saturday, marking the first day of six days of national mourning.
According to organisers, the mosque inside the complex will host Khamenei’s remains for three days. Afterwards, a funeral procession will move through Tehran on Monday before reaching the holy city of Qom on Tuesday.
Authorities plan to bury Khamenei on July 9 in Mashhad, his birthplace in northeastern Iran.
Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged Iranians to attend the funeral in large numbers. He said public participation would honour Khamenei’s legacy and send a message to the world. Officials described the ceremonies as an important national event following Khamenei’s death in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
