PTC Web Desk: Nearly four months after his assassination, Iran is preparing for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorities expecting one of the largest public gatherings in modern history as millions are projected to participate in ceremonies across the country.

According to Iranian state media and statements attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), funeral rites for the late Supreme Leader are expected to culminate around June 21, with his burial planned near the revered Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. The location fulfils Khamenei's reported wish to be laid to rest beside one of the most sacred figures in Shia Islam.

Officials estimate that as many as 20 million mourners could gather in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad during the multi-day ceremonies.

Three-Day mourning programme planned

Iranian authorities have earmarked three days for public mourning, viewings and farewell ceremonies. The main funeral service is expected to begin in Tehran and continue for at least 24 hours before the body is transported through the religious city of Qom and eventually to Mashhad for burial.

A Tehran municipality official said funeral processions will pass through both holy cities before the final interment at the Imam Reza shrine, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the Shia Muslim world.

Funeral delayed amid wartime challenges

The extended gap between Khamenei's death and funeral arrangements is highly unusual under Islamic customs, which generally call for burial within a short period after death.

Iranian officials earlier attributed the delay to wartime disruptions and the unprecedented logistical challenges associated with managing the anticipated crowds.

Khamenei was killed on February 28 during a joint US-Israeli airstrike that struck his office-cum-residence in Tehran on the opening day of the conflict. The attack reportedly destroyed the compound and claimed the lives of several members of his family.

He was 86 years old and had served as Iran's Supreme Leader for more than three decades.

Successor maintains low public profile

Following Khamenei's death, his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was chosen as his successor. However, since assuming the country's highest religious and political office, Mojtaba Khamenei has largely remained out of the public spotlight, making only limited appearances.

Funeral attendance could eclipse historic 1989 gathering

Authorities believe attendance at Khamenei's funeral could rival or even surpass the massive turnout witnessed during the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in June 1989. That funeral attracted an estimated 10 million mourners and remains recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest proportion of a country's population ever to attend a funeral.

The overwhelming crowds led to chaos, with a stampede resulting in several deaths and thousands of injuries.

Officials overseeing Khamenei's funeral have indicated that extensive security and crowd-management measures are being planned to avoid a repeat of those scenes.

Symbolic importance of Mashhad Burial

The decision to bury Khamenei in Mashhad carries profound religious and political significance.

The Imam Reza shrine, dedicated to the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia Islam, attracts tens of millions of pilgrims each year and is regarded as one of the holiest sites in the Shia world.

For Khamenei's supporters, burial near Imam Reza strengthens his symbolic connection to the religious foundations of the Islamic Republic and the lineage of the Shia Imams.