Huge crowds fill Tehran for Khamenei funeral procession

A sea of people has filled the streets of Tehran for the funeral procession of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, with authorities saying millions turned out in a display of the Islamic republic's resilience after Middle East war.

Ordinary Iranians loyal to the Islamic republic joined top officials for the procession, in which a truck carrying the bodies of Khamenei and four family members killed in a 28 February US-Israeli strike inched its way to Azadi Square in the west of the city.

Images showed huge numbers stretching along major boulevards in the Iranian capital, while state television said millions turned out for an event comparable to the giant funeral of Khamenei's predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

The ceremonies offer Iran an opportunity to project resilience after five months of war with the United States and Israel, although attention remains focused on Khamenei's successor, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since taking power.

After lying in state for two days at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex, the body of Khamenei began its journey through the capital joined by massive crowds.

Clad in black, people threw petals onto the coffins, including the tiny casket of Khamenei's granddaughter, who was only 14-months old when she was killed, according to state media.

Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of the chaos that marred the 1989 funeral of Khamenei's predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which drew an estimated 10 million people, according to state news agency IRNA.

"If I am to compare this ceremony to that one, I can say they are not different at all. But the crowd this time seems more enthusiastic," said one man attending the procession.

Tehran's airspace was closed for the occasion as the country stood still to remember the former leader.

Mourners marched through the streets waving the flags of Iran and the Tehran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, as well as red flags symbolising revenge.

Others hanged an effigy of US President Donald Trump in Imam Hussein Square in eastern Tehran, according to state media.

Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was seen attending the procession, according to local media.

In sweltering heat, trucks sprayed mourners with water to cool them, while organisers handed out Iranian flags and pictures of Ali and Mojtaba.

Mojtaba absent

A day earlier thousands had filled the Grand Mosalla to pay their respects to Khamenei and four family members killed in the Israeli airstrikes, which were based on US intelligence.

Massive concrete walls at the complex separated the public from the coffin to prevent stampedes.

It is unclear what level of access and proximity the public will eventually have during the 20km-long procession, but authorities are mindful that in 1989 they were forced to use a helicopter to transport Khomeini for burial after mourners stormed his vehicle, causing his burial shroud to tear and his body to fall to the ground.

The procession will be followed by similar events in the clerical hub of Qom tomorrow and in Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, culminating in Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.

Three of Ali Khamenei's sons made a rare public appearance at the funeral on Sunday, further highlighting the absence of Mojtaba, who was named supreme leader shortly after his father's killing but has yet to appear in public.

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Officials have said he was wounded in the airstrikes, but the severity of his injuries remains unclear.

The new commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, whose predecessor was killed on 28 February, also appeared at the funerals for a second time on Sunday, on this occasion in the open air, after he went unseen throughout the war.

Esmail Qaani, the shadowy head of the Guards' Quds Force, responsible for its foreign operations, also made a rare appearance.

But as on previous days, there was still no sign of Mojtaba Khamenei, fuelling speculation over his whereabouts and condition. Iranian officials have said he was wounded in an airstrike and it remains uncertain if he will appear for the ceremonies.

Mojtaba Khamenei earlier reappointed Ejei as judiciary chief, according to his official social media.

Today's procession will be followed by similar events in the clerical hub of Qom on Tuesday and in Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday.