Iran Prepares for Six-Day Funeral of Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran is finalizing preparations for the six-day funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during a US-Israeli attack in February. The ceremony is expected to attract millions of attendees and is designed to showcase national power and unity. Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice-president and lead organizer of the funeral, described the event as 'the most important event of this century' and the largest since the 1979 revolution. The funeral will begin on Saturday in Tehran and conclude with Khamenei's burial in Mashhad on Thursday. Additionally, Khamenei's body will be transported through the Iraqi Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf at the request of Iraqi politicians. Khamenei's son and potential successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to attend due to severe injuries sustained in the same attack that killed his father. Israel's defense minister has issued threats against him. The article also briefly mentions former President Donald Trump's dissatisfaction with NATO's defense spending, particularly regarding European contributions.