Iran Prepares for Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral Ceremony

Iran is set to hold the funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at the age of 86. The public funeral will commence on Saturday, with the body displayed at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran.

The ceremony is expected to attract between 15 to 20 million mourners, according to officials. Heavy police presence is anticipated, and public transport will be urged to accommodate the expected crowd.

Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, the secretary of the funeral ceremony headquarters, stated that representatives from approximately 30 countries are expected to attend. Following the Tehran ceremony, Khamenei's body will be taken to holy cities in Iraq, including Najaf and Karbala, for burial.

The event is also marked by a public holiday, and major traffic restrictions will be in place in Tehran. The funeral comes amid ongoing nationwide protests in Iran related to rising living costs and anti-government demonstrations.