Many high-ranking Iranian officials, as well as thousands of citizens, gathered today in Tehran for a mass prayer in memory of the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the second day of the funeral ceremonies.

The prayer, which lasted about 10 minutes, was led by Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old ayatollah who teaches in the holy city of Qom.

In the front row in front of Khamenei’s coffin, alongside the thousands of faithful who continued to flock to the vast Grand Mosalla complex where the funeral rites are being held, were Iranian President Masoud Pezeskian, the Speaker of Parliament and Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bayer Galibaf, and General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force.

Also present was Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards since the start of the war, whom the crowd rushed to greet, as well as three sons of Ali Khamenei: Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam, according to footage broadcast by Iranian state television.

However, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei was absent; he succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader in March and has not made any public appearances since then.

The coffin of Ali Khamenei, on which his black turban has been placed and which is draped with the Iranian flag, has been on display since yesterday, Saturday, at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran. Next to his coffin are those of his relatives who were killed in the same attack: a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter just 14 months old.

The Great Mosalla is packed with people this morning, as are the surrounding streets, according to an AFP reporter.

Iranian flags and red flags—symbolizing revenge and justice—are visible in the crowd. Some worshippers are holding portraits of the late leader. Along the route, they are being given refreshments, as temperatures are expected to rise again above 35 degrees Celsius later in the day.

Today and tomorrow, Monday, have been declared public holidays throughout Iran so that anyone who wishes to do so can travel to Tehran to pay their respects to Ali Khamenei. Authorities estimate that a total of 15 to 20 million people are expected to attend.

SEE ALSO: Iran: Will Mojtaba Khamenei Attend His Father’s Funeral or Not? | AlphaNews

Source: APE-MPE