Iran expects delegations from 100 countries at Khamenei's farewell ceremonies

Iranian authorities expect representatives from around 100 countries to attend farewell ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated.

“We are expecting guests from approximately 100 countries — political figures, heads of state, parliamentary speakers, foreign ministers or special government representatives, as well as a large number of public figures,” Baghaei said in an interview with state television.

He added that the farewell ceremony for foreign guests will begin on Friday, July 3, at around 2:00 p.m. local time.

The official farewell ceremonies for Khamenei are scheduled to begin in Tehran on July 3. High-level delegations from at least 30 countries are expected to attend the mourning events that day.

From July 4 to July 5, the ayatollah’s body will lie in state at the Mosalla of Tehran, the capital’s largest religious and public complex, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects.

A mourning procession is scheduled to take place through the main streets of Tehran on July 6, after which the body will be transported to Qom, the country’s principal religious centre, where additional memorial ceremonies will be held on July 7.

On July 8, Khamenei’s body is expected to be taken to neighbouring Iraq, where separate farewell ceremonies will be organised for local Shiite Muslims in Najaf and Karbala. The ayatollah is scheduled to be buried on July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad.

By Jeyhun Aghazada