Iran delays the state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, citing the need for infrastructure to handle an anticipated massive public turnout.
TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have postponed the state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was scheduled for Wednesday evening in the capital.
State television announced the delay, attributing it to the need for proper infrastructure to accommodate an “unprecedented turnout” of millions of mourners.
“The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed, and the new date will be announced later,” Iranian television reported on Wednesday.
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed at the age of 86 during US-Israeli strikes over the weekend, which have since pummelled Tehran with missiles targeting military and government infrastructure.
Authorities had earlier stated that a tribute would be held on Wednesday evening before his body was to be buried in his hometown, the holy city of Mashhad.
Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council which is organising the event, told state TV the postponement was partly due to “the expected participation of millions of people and the need to provide the proper infrastructure” for such a crowd.
Officials did not link the decision to the ongoing security situation in the capital.
