Reza Salehi-Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic, announced his ministry’s decision to officially register the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Iran’s National Heritage List.
Describing the multi-stage procession as “the largest public gathering since Ashura,” Salehi-Amiri claimed that the funerary rites of the late Supreme Leader serve as a symbol of “national power, social capital, and the Iranian nation’s loyalty to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.” For these reasons, he noted, the event is being fast-tracked for official heritage status.
The announcement comes as state-orchestrated funeral processions for Ali Khamenei enter their third consecutive day across the main streets and the Musalla of Tehran. While state institutions have mobilized massive logistical resources to organize and promote the highly publicized gatherings, official authorities have yet to release any data on the financial costs of these extensive, state-funded ceremonies.
