Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleIran has commenced several days of public mourning and mass funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its former Supreme Leader, who was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes in February. Officials anticipate up to 20 million mourners for the funeral in Tehran, viewing the large public turnout as a "referendum" for the Islamic Republic. Funeral events are scheduled to begin in Tehran over the weekend, followed by mass processions in Qom and Masshad next week, and further ceremonies in Iraq. Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi, Qom's Friday prayer leader, stated that the significant public attendance at the funeral procession would serve as another referendum for the Islamic Republic. Iran has issued a warning to Donald Trump and Israel against launching any strikes during the state funeral, with Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, cautioning against "miscalculation" and threatening harsh retaliation. In fullIran-US war latest: Tehran begins public mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei and claims funeral will draw 20 millionMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

By Parisa Hafezi and Angus McDowallDUBAI, July 2 - Iran's ruling clerics are preparing days of mass funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a show of public devotion to the…

Iran's supreme leader was killed by US and Israeli strikes in their first attack of the war and the funeral events will begin over the weekend in Tehran, with mass processions…