Pezeshkian Rejects 'Farewell' Interpretation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday stated that the funeral ceremonies for the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, represent a "pledge to continue his path" rather than a farewell. Speaking to state broadcaster IRNA during coverage of the funeral, Pezeshkian said, "I do not accept the interpretation of 'farewell.' This is not a farewell, but rather a pledge to continue the path."
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, according to Iranian officials. His death has triggered a week of mourning across Iran and Iraq.
Condolences and Unity Message
Pezeshkian expressed condolences for the death of the Leader, his family members, and all those who lost their lives in what he described as a war for "the honour and dignity of Iran and Islam." He claimed the enemy had altered the region's geography by launching a war against Iran, but argued the conflict had strengthened unity and solidarity among Muslims while exposing what he called the falsehood of human rights claims by the West.
"The enemy proved that its talk of freedom and human rights is nothing but a lie," Pezeshkian said, adding that Zionists were responsible for crimes in the region with the support of the United States and European countries, as reported by IRNA.
Millions Attend Funeral Prayers
According to Al Jazeera, the seven-day commemoration began in Tehran on Friday, with funeral ceremonies and public processions scheduled across Iran and Iraq. Millions of mourners attended prayers for the late Supreme Leader and four members of his family on Sunday. Public mourning ceremonies are being held in Tehran, where the coffins of Ayatollah Khamenei and several family members are placed at the Grand Mosalla, one of Iran's largest prayer complexes, for public viewing.
Funeral Procession Route
Al Jazeera reported that funeral processions will continue on Monday and Tuesday as they move south toward the Iranian city of Qom. On Wednesday, an official reception is scheduled at Najaf International Airport in Iraq, followed by public funeral processions in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, according to Iranian and Iraqi authorities. The body will then be returned to Iran for the final burial ceremony at the Imam Reza shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Friday. Mashhad is also the birthplace of Ayatollah Khamenei.
