Iran has postponed the state funeral earlier scheduled for its late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, citing expectations of an overwhelming crowd.
State television announced on Wednesday that the ceremony, which was to be held that evening in the capital, Tehran, had been shifted to a later date. A fresh date will be communicated in due course.
Khamenei, who died at the age of 86 following US-Israeli strikes over the weekend, was initially billed to be honoured at a public tribute in Tehran before his remains would be laid to rest in Mashhad, his hometown and one of Iran’s holiest cities.
Missile attacks have rocked parts of Tehran since Saturday, reportedly targeting military and key government facilities. However, officials did not directly attribute the postponement of the funeral to the ongoing security situation.
Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, the body overseeing the arrangements said the decision was largely due to the anticipated attendance of millions of mourners and the need to ensure adequate preparations and infrastructure for such a large gathering.
The government has yet to announce a new date for the ceremony.
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