• Iran begins a week-long funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, attracting millions of mourners.
• Representatives from over 100 countries, including key leaders, are expected to attend.
• The funeral includes ceremonies in major Iranian and Iraqi religious cities.

The week-long funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, commenced with his body lying in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla. Hundreds of thousands of mourners began gathering as preparations for the massive event commenced on July 3. The ceremony is anticipated to attract between 15 and 20 million attendees, marking it as potentially the largest state funeral in Iran’s history, surpassing the funeral of Khomeini in 1989, which drew around 10 million mourners, according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and Reuters.

Khamenei was killed in a targeted air strike by the US and Israel, with his funeral marking a pivotal moment in Iranian history as the preparation coincided with a fragile ceasefire in ongoing hostilities. His son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been absent from public view since becoming the new Supreme Leader, notably due to security concerns. While arrangements for the funeral are being pressed forward amid visible tensions, significant foreign dignitaries, including Iranian Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and officials from several countries, are set to attend the ceremonies, as reported by Channel News Asia and BBC.

The commemoration will feature activities spanning across important religious cities in Iran and Iraq, starting from Tehran moving to Qom, Najaf, and Karbala. Each stage of the ceremony will attract large crowds of mourners participating in traditional mourning rituals, drawing inspiration from Shi'ite religious observances and historical events. Specifically, the body will later be interred at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, where Khamenei was born, emphasizing the cultural significance of the location, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

Military readiness is high as Iranian officials issue stern warnings to the US and Israel against potential interference during the funeral proceedings. The event also serves as a focal point of national unity amidst a tumultuous political landscape, marked by internal fractures and public dissent. Despite the tension, authorities are attempting to project an image of control and collective mourning as they prepare for a series of public memorials and processions, which further illustrate the deep emotional connection many Iranians feel towards Khamenei, as reported by BBC, Reuters, and India Times.