Tehran, Iran - July 4, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
1. Various of mourners gathering at farewell ceremony for late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
2. Coffins of Khamenei, his family members
3. Pictures of Khamenei
4. Various of metro station platform, people
5. Various of gathering mourners

Tehran, Iran - July 4, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
6. SOUNDBITE (Farsi, dubbed in English) Fatemeh, participant (no full-name given):
"I have been standing here since 4:00 a.m. to visit the leader. Our leader was our red line. Our leader was our everything."
7. SOUNDBITE (Farsi, dubbed in English) Mahdieh Sadat, participant:
"It's as if people have lost their own father; they are mourning just as they would for their own father. They are wearing black from the depths of their hearts. They have come spontaneously, giving their all, and despite the roads being closed, they have still made their way here."

Tehran, Iran - July 4, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
8. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Hassan, participant (no full-name given):
"This is not just [Donald] Trump. The history of the United States has shown that for a long time its policy has been to impose its will through force and lies. But now, the people of the world are awakening. The blood of our leader has opened people's eyes and awakened them."

Tehran, Iran - July 4, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
9. Various of farewell ceremony in progress, mourners, pictures of Khamenei, coffins

Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies spanning across five cities and two countries for its late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

In Tehran, people have gathered at the Grand Mosalla for the first day of Khamenei's farewell ceremonies. Iranian authorities say 15 million to 20 million mourners are expected in Tehran alone for the three-day farewell ceremony in the capital.

Due to the massive influx of mourners, authorities imposed strict traffic controls around the mosque, closing the area to vehicles and permitting only pedestrian access. The city arranged shuttle buses to transport visitors from outside Tehran to metro stations and the event site, while all public transportation was made free and metro services operated 24 hours a day.

Mourners, many carrying red banners symbolizing vengeance, filled the vast courtyard of the Grand Mosalla. Some described the occasion as more than a state funeral, but a deeply personal loss that feels like a family tragedy.

"I have been standing here since 4:00 a.m. to visit the leader. Our leader was our red line. Our leader was our everything," said Fatemeh, a participant.

"It's as if people have lost their own father; they are mourning just as they would for their own father. They are wearing black from the depths of their hearts. They have come spontaneously, giving their all, and despite the roads being closed, they have still made their way here," said Mahdieh Sadat, another participant.

In the Grand Mosalla's open square, a raised platform held the coffins of Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and his 14-month-old granddaughter, all of whom were killed on February 28 when the U.S. and Israeli launched a large-scale air strike against Iran.

"This is not just [Donald] Trump. The history of the United States has shown that for a long time its policy has been to impose its will through force and lies. But now, the people of the world are awakening. The blood of our leader has opened people's eyes and awakened them," said Hassan, another participant.

Khamenei's coffin will remain in state in Tehran until Monday. In the coming days, the funeral procession will continue to the holy city of Qom before crossing into neighboring Iraq, ahead of his burial in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.