Kathmandu. The body of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has been taken to the site of his death, state media reported.
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the coffin where Khamenei’s body was kept was taken to the site of his “martyrdom” without prior notice.
Iran will host a two-day public funeral and funeral in Tehran on July 4 and 5. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), up to 20 million people are expected to attend, making it one of the largest public gatherings in Iran’s history.
The Iranian government said in a telephone call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed condolences to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Regional and international situation, the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the ongoing diplomatic dialogue were also discussed during the talks.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of Iran in Ghana has released a tribute message commemorating the meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and Khamenei in 2016. “Khamenei expressed his vision to see Africa as a continent of self-reliant and respectable nations,” the embassy said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Bihar Governor Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will arrive in Iran on July 3 to attend the funeral.
The new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral of his father Ali Khamenei in public due to security risks. Iran’s Supreme Leader’s representative to India, Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, said the decision was taken due to the security challenges and surveillance risks from Israel.
According to press TV, a memorial service will begin at 6 a.m. on July 4 at the Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Ground in Tehran, while the final prayer will be held on July 5. After this, a funeral procession will be taken out through a wide road in the capital.
The head of the IRGC’s Tehran command, Brigadier General Hassan Hassan Hassanzadeh, said the funeral procession would be held over a wide area after the conclusion that the same road could not be used due to the expected crowds.
Metro, bus service, health service, security mechanism and other government agencies have been fully mobilized for the program. Drinking water, food, health services, sanitation and other necessary facilities will be provided to the participants. Iranian officials have initially estimated that between 12 million and 15 million attendees could attend, while some assessments put the number as high as 20 million.
According to Iran’s side, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint attack by the US and Israel on February 28 this year. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Leave your comment