Iranian authorities have begun preparations for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the first day of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, state television reported on Friday, adding that the exact date of the ceremony has yet to be determined.
The funeral was originally scheduled to take place in early March but was postponed indefinitely.
“A special headquarters has been established to prepare the ceremony,” state broadcaster IRIB reported, citing Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Coordination Council, which has been tasked with organizing the funeral.
Although no date has been set, Mahmoudi said the event would be a “grand ceremony attended by a large crowd.”
Ali Khamenei, 86, led the Islamic Republic for more than 36 years. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded him in early March, has not appeared in public since taking office. He was reportedly injured during the airstrikes and has communicated only through written messages.
Thousands of Iranians paid tribute to Ali Khamenei in April, 40 days after his death, in accordance with local religious tradition. However, his funeral never took place, despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 8.
Source: ANA-MPA.
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