Iran has officially begun six days of public funeral ceremonies for the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state television reports, with processions due to continue in Iraq before his burial.*

Thousands of mourners carrying red banners, a symbol associated with calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla ahead of the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin, chanting “death to America” and “revenge, revenge”.

Foreign leaders and official delegations from across the Middle East, Asia and beyond paid tribute early on Friday to Khamenei.

State television broadcast live coverage from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla, where foreign dignitaries, political leaders and representatives of regional organisations gathered to offer condolences and pay their respects to the late Iranian leader.

Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, an attack that triggered nearly three weeks of conflict and significantly heightened regional tensions before a ceasefire was reached under a US-Iran memorandum brokered by regional mediators.

Separate memorial events were also being held outside Iran, with Hezbollah organising a farewell ceremony in Lebanon and commemorations taking place in Iraq and other regional capitals.

Iran’s funeral committee spokesperson said the official funeral schedule remains subject to possible adjustments.

The main public farewell ceremony is scheduled to begin on Saturday morning.

According to the official programme, memorial ceremonies in Tehran will continue throughout the weekend with the participation of heads of state, senior officials and religious figures.

Public farewell ceremonies are scheduled for July 4 and July 5, followed by the main funeral procession in Tehran on July 6.

The funeral rites will then move to the Iranian city of Qom on July 7.

Ceremonies are scheduled to continue in Iraq on July 8, including events in Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala, where religious and political figures are expected to receive Khamenei’s body before it is transferred to major shrines.

The final funeral and burial ceremony is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Ali Reza Shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad.