Iran on Friday began preparations for the dayslong funeral of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with authorities calling on millions of people to take to the streets in a show of support for the Islamic Republic following the war that claimed the 86-year-old cleric's life.
The funeral processions, set to begin on Saturday, are expected to draw huge crowds in scenes reminiscent of the 1989 funeral of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini.
Iranian authorities appear eager to use the funeral as a demonstration of national unity and political resilience at a time when Tehran is navigating negotiations with the United States over a permanent end to the conflict and amid lingering concerns of renewed Israeli military action.
Large banners across Tehran carried the message, "We must rise," in Arabic, English and Persian, urging citizens to rally behind the country's leadership.
At Tehran's Grand Mosalla, Khamenei's flag-draped coffin was displayed alongside the coffins of several family members reportedly killed in the Israeli strike that triggered the war on February 28. Those honored included a son-in-law, his eldest daughter, a 14-month-old granddaughter and the wife of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Senior Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, paid their respects during the ceremony, joined by religious leaders and foreign dignitaries.
State media also broadcast images from an earlier mourning ceremony on Thursday evening, showing mourners throwing scarves and personal items toward the coffin in a traditional gesture believed to bring blessings.
The funeral ceremonies also marked the first public appearance in months of General Ahmad Vahidi, a senior figure within Iran's powerful security establishment and a key player in shaping Tehran's position in post-war negotiations with Washington.
"They must know that the pure blood of our martyred imam will mark another turning point in the victories of beloved Islam across the global arena," Vahidi said in comments carried by state television.
His reappearance comes after weeks of speculation over the fate of senior Iranian officials following the conflict, during which Israel reportedly targeted top military and political figures and threatened members of the Khamenei family.
Iran's joint military command on Thursday warned the United States, Israel and their allies against any further military action, pledging a "harsh and regret-inducing" response to any new aggression.
The funeral ceremonies are expected to continue for several days, with Khamenei's body due to be transported to multiple cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq. Authorities have announced extensive security measures, including road closures and disruptions to daily life in Tehran.
Images displayed across the Iranian capital depict Khamenei's raised, clenched fist, which his son Mojtaba described in a message to the nation as a symbol of defiance and resistance.
For many mourners, the symbolism of the gesture reflects a determination to continue the Islamic Republic's confrontational stance toward its adversaries.
"The leader's fist is a sign that all our fists are clenched," Tehran taxi driver Jafar Javadi said. "We will continue chanting 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel' with the same clenched fist."
