Iran has launched extensive preparations to manage the mourning period for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed four months ago in an Israeli airstrike on his Tehran compound. Authorities anticipate millions of mourners will gather in the capital for a series of events culminating in a major procession on Monday, marking a rare moment of national mobilization amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force have been deployed to oversee security and logistical arrangements during the multi-day mourning. Mobile bakeries have been established across Tehran to produce and distribute an estimated 50 million flatbreads, known as noon, to attendees. Additionally, mosques, sports facilities, and cultural centers have been opened to accommodate the influx of visitors expected from across Iran, including the major cities of Mashhad and Qom. Residents have been urged to host mourners in their homes as part of a nationwide campaign.

Ahead of the planned full lockdown in Tehran, which began Sunday night, many residents left the city, creating long queues at petrol stations. Authorities sealed Tehran’s road access and imposed airspace restrictions ahead of the six-mile funeral procession set to run from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square, the historical site of the 1979 revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khamenei, who succeeded Khomeini after his natural death in 1989, is being honored with a ceremony combining religious rites and a symbolic display of defiance against external adversaries.

Several foreign dignitaries have arrived to pay respects at Khamenei’s lying-in-state held at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque. Notable attendees included Dmitry Medvedev, representing Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan’s army chief Asif Munir, a key figure in mediation efforts. Turkey was the only NATO member represented, sending Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. Iran has explicitly excluded Western nations from invitations, framing the event as a demonstration of its “power to the international community,” according to the IRGC funeral commander Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian.

A stark reminder of the conflict’s human toll accompanied visitors at Tehran’s international airport, where a memorial commemorated 120 Iranian children killed in an American airstrike on a school in Minab on the same day as Khamenei’s death. Nearby, a prominent poster featuring the Supreme Leader alongside his son Mojtaba Khamenei, his designated heir, greets arrivals across the border from Turkey, emblazoned with the slogan “We Must Rise!” and a clenched fist emblem. This branding reflects the regime’s attempt to project unity and resilience amid internal uncertainty and external pressure.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from public view has fueled speculation. He was seriously wounded in the same strike that killed his father and other family members, including his wife and 14-month-old granddaughter. Officials have not confirmed reasons for his lack of public appearances during the mourning, prompting analysis that his injuries or concerns over possible Israeli assassination attempts may be the cause. Some suggest that his absence signals increased dominance of the IRGC over Iran’s political hierarchy, potentially sidelining the clerical establishment.

The son’s nonappearance was notable during the low-profile funeral of his wife, held at the girls’ school where she previously taught, contrasting with the elaborate arrangements for Khamenei senior’s funeral.

Tehran’s mayor, Alireza Zakani, projected turnout figures up to 20 million for the events, more than double those estimated at Khomeini’s funeral in 1989. Past mass funerals have seen deadly crowd crushes, including the 2020 procession for Qassem Soleimani, underscoring officials’ concerns over security. Accordingly, the capital is enacting unprecedented security measures, surpassing those used during the widespread protests against the regime earlier this year, which resulted in thousands of deaths.

The ongoing shadow of conflict remains acute. Israel’s defense minister recently reiterated a targeting of Mojtaba Khamenei for assassination. Reports also allege an Israeli attempt to intercept an Iranian aircraft carrying negotiators returning from peace talks with the United States in April. These developments underline lingering hostilities alongside the public show of mourning.

Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized a defiant tone in a funeral statement, urging national unity and the projection of resistance against “oppression and arrogance.” He framed the funeral as a pivotal moment in Iran’s history, where citizens demonstrate loyalty and resolve in the face of adversity.

The multi-day events reflect a complex interplay of grief, power dynamics, and political messaging as Iran navigates leadership transition under pressure from internal factions and external adversaries.