Iran begins public farewell for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after Feb. 28 airstrike

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, Iran on July 4 began a public farewell ceremony in Tehran for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who Iran says was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28 at age 86, as tens of thousands gathered at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque complex. Authorities deployed riot police and set up roadblocks from the evening of July 3, and said more than 10 million people in Tehran were expected to take part in mourning events; state broadcaster Seda va Sima reported the military and security agencies vowed retaliation, with chants of “Death to America” heard at the site. Khamenei’s brother, Hadi Khamenei, said Iran should seek revenge while continuing negotiations with the United States; Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, named the new supreme leader on March 9, has not appeared publicly and did not attend the memorial, the report said. Iran’s official schedule calls for the coffin to remain at the mosque until the evening of July 5 before being moved to Qom, then to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, and later buried in Mashhad; authorities also plan to mobilize millions for marches and provide transportation, food and lodging support.