Ayatollah Khamenei’s Coffin Arrives in Tehran as Iran Prepares for Historic Funeral Ceremony

Tehran: The body of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was brought to Tehran on Thursday, where his funeral began formally. According to state media, his coffin was first taken to the spot where he died. After this the last darshan and tribute programmes were started.

How many days will the The public tribute programme continue?

Iranian authorities have announced a two-day public tribute and funeral ceremony to be held in the capital Tehran on July 4 and 5. Lakhs of people are expected to participate during this period. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) estimates that between 12 million and 20 million people could attend the ceremony.

Who expressed condolences?

According to the Iranian government, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke by phone with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and expressed condolences on Khamenei's death. During the talks, the regional situation, the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire in Lebanon and ongoing diplomatic talks were also discussed.

Did the Iranian embassy in Ghana share old memories?

Referring to a meeting in 2016 on social media, the Iranian Embassy in Ghana said that at that time Khamenei saw Africa not only from the perspective of trade or resources, but as a symbol of respect and self-reliance. The embassy said that his ideas remain an inspiration for many countries even today.

Will delegation also arrive from India?

India's Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will visit Iran on July 3. Both the leaders will represent India at the funeral ceremony.

Will Mojtaba Khamenei not attend due to security reasons?

According to reports, new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the public funeral ceremony due to security reasons. Their representatives say that this decision has been taken in view of the possible security threat and surveillance concerns.

Were special arrangements made in Tehran?

Keeping in view the possibility of a large number of people attending the funeral, the administration has made extensive preparations in the capital. The city's metro and bus services will run with full capacity. Special traffic plan has been implemented to control the crowd. Arrangements for food, drinking water, medical aid, toilets and other necessary facilities have also been made for the devotees.

May this programme include the largest gathering of people in history?

Organisers say the number of people attending the funeral could be one of the largest public events in Iran's history. For this reason, instead of a single road, a wide route connecting many parts of the capital has been prepared for the last journey, so that the crowd can be handled safely.