Watch: Iran Parliament Speaker Breaks Down As Top Leaders Mourn Ayatollah Khamenei

Iran on Friday began farewell ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, with senior leaders Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi breaking down in tears during the solemn proceedings. The funeral has drawn high-level delegations from across the world amid heightened security and expectations of one of the largest public gatherings in the country's history.

Tears, tributes and tight security mark farewell

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were seen in tears during the farewell ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, according to Fars News. Mourning ceremonies for the late leader, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 this year, officially began as authorities rolled out extensive security measures.

Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamadian said, "We will have the highest level of security and safety at the farewell and send-off ceremony for the martyred Leader."

He added, "Exactly at 6 a.m. tomorrow, the doors of Tehran's Prayer Grounds will open; there will be no opening before 6."

Motamadian further said, "People should plan to arrive at the Prayer Grounds starting from this hour."

According to Fars News, Baghdad will also shut down during the funeral procession following an announcement by Baghdad Governor Atwan Al-Atwani.

India was represented at Friday's funeral ceremony by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain.

The Embassy of Iran in India, in a post on X, said, "Indian Dignitaries Pay Tribute to the Martyred Leader of Iran, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei."

The image shared by the embassy featured People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who heads the party's foreign affairs department, along with several others.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the arrival of Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, for the ceremonies.

In a post on X, the ministry said, "On July 3, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council @MedvedevRussiaE arrived in Tehran to attend the farewell ceremony for Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

Global leaders gather in Tehran

According to Press TV, the ceremony at Tehran's Grand Mosalla was attended by senior Iranian leaders, heads of state and foreign delegations from across the world.

Among the Iranian leaders present were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje'i and Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

Foreign dignitaries included Turkmenistan's chairman of the People's Council Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Parliament speakers from Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan also attended, along with foreign ministers from Nicaragua, Congo and Burkina Faso, Egypt's Senate president, the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Oman's parliament speaker, Shanghai Cooperation Council Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev, the secretary general of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, the deputy secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev and several other international delegations.

Iran expects millions of mourners

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the funeral ceremonies had drawn broad international participation.

He said, "We have high-level delegations from neighbouring countries. At least eight heads of government, including presidents or prime ministers, and parliamentary speakers from 12 countries will attend."

Baghaei added, "Many other countries will be represented at the level of foreign ministers, other ministers, or special envoys."

He further said that public groups and prominent figures from around 100 countries would also participate, including official delegations, public figures and members of parliament from Eastern European countries. However, he noted that countries in Europe which had officially supported the military aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran had not been invited.

According to Press TV, Iranian officials estimate that the multi-day funeral ceremonies could attract between 15 and 20 million mourners, making it one of the largest international gatherings in Iran since Khamenei's death.

The ceremonies will continue through the weekend, with Khamenei's body lying in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla before a funeral procession through Tehran on Monday. Further rites are scheduled in Qom, Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf before burial in Mashhad on July 9.

Organisers said the gates of the Mosalla are scheduled to open to the public at 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, though they may open earlier depending on the situation.

(With inputs from ANI)