Iraqi officials walk near the coffins of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, on the day international delegates participate in a farewell ceremony for Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran, July 3. Reuters-Yonhap
TEHRAN — Preparations for the funeral of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were in full swing on Friday, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony.
Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war, said its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be at the funeral in Tehran on Saturday.
China, Afghanistan and Iran's neighbours in the Caucasus region said they would also be sending representatives.
Workers were readying Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex on Thursday, while security teams stopped passing cars and curious bystanders looked on.
