Kathmandu. The body of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has been taken to the place where he died, according to Iranian state media.
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the coffin in which Khamenei’s body was placed was taken to the place of his ‘martyrdom’ in an event held without prior notice.
Iran has organized a two-day public mourning and funeral program in Tehran on July 4 and 5. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), up to 20 million people are expected to attend the event, which is expected to be one of the largest public gatherings in Iran’s history.
The Iranian government said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had a telephone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and expressed his condolences on Khamenei’s death. During the dialogue, regional and international situation, Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic talks were also discussed.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in Ghana has released a message of tribute, commemorating the meeting between the then President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama and Khamenei in 2016. The embassy noted that Khamenei expressed his view of Africa as a continent of independent and respected nations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has also announced that Governor of Bihar Lieutenant General (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Pavitra Margherita will reach Iran on July 3 and participate in the funeral ceremony.
On the other hand, the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not publicly participate in the funeral ceremony of his father Ali Khamenei due to security risks. According to Iran’s supreme leader’s representative for India, Importullah Hakeem Elahi, this decision was made due to security challenges and surveillance risks from Israel.
According to Iranian media Press TV, a public memorial service will begin at the Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Ground in Tehran on July 4 at 6 a.m., and the last prayer will be held on July 5 in the morning. After that, a funeral procession will be taken out through the wide avenues of the capital.
आईआरजीसीको तेहरान कमान्डका प्रमुख ब्रिगेडियर जनरल हसन हसनजादेहका अनुसार अपेक्षित भीडका कारण एउटै सडक प्रयोग गर्न नसकिने निष्कर्षपछि फराकिलो क्षेत्रमा शवयात्रा सञ्चालन गर्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ ।
Metro, bus services, health services, security mechanisms and other government agencies have been fully mobilized for the program. It is said that drinking water, food, health services, sanitation and other necessary facilities will be provided for the participants. Iranian officials have initially estimated that 12 million to 15 million people may attend the ceremony, while some estimates suggest that this number may reach 20 million.
According to the Iranian side, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint attack by the US and Israel on February 28 this year. After that, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.