Iran Prepares for Funeral of Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran is organizing a six-day funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died on February 28 during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The ceremonies will begin on Saturday and are expected to attract as many as 20 million mourners, according to Iranian state media. Security measures have been heightened across Tehran, with checkpoints established and concerns about potential terrorist attacks or crowd control issues. Notably, Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen publicly since taking power in March, raising questions about his health. The funeral will also serve as a political gathering for various international leaders, including officials from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Russia, China, Turkey, India, and the Taliban government of Afghanistan. Despite the government's efforts to present a united front, many Iranians are critical of the lavish spending on the funeral amid ongoing economic challenges, including rising food prices and inflation. Residents have expressed skepticism about the government's ability to fund such an event while ordinary citizens struggle financially. The funeral is set to culminate in Khamenei's burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9.