Thousands of Mourners Gather Outside Tehran's Grand Mosalla

Large crowds gathered in Tehran on Saturday, the first day of the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The body of the former Iranian leader will lie in state in the Grand Mosalla until Monday, where it will be visited by mourners from across the country and abroad.

Organizers of the funeral procession expect more than 10 million people to participate in the ceremonies, which will see Khamenei's body travel across Iran and Iraq before it is buried.

Iranians from all walks of life have been flocking to the Grand Mosalla to pay their respects to Khamenei, who died on Tuesday at the age of 90.

Country Comes to a Standstill Amidst Mourning

As the funeral ceremonies got underway, Tehran was brought to a standstill, with many shops and businesses closing for the day in respect of the late leader.

The streets were filled with mourners, all dressed in black, who made their way to the Grand Mosalla to pay their last respects to Khamenei.

Iranian officials have announced that the funeral processions will continue over the next few days, with the body set to travel from Tehran to other major cities in Iran, including Shiraz and Mashhad.

On Tuesday, Khamenei will be taken to his final resting place in a ceremony that is expected to be attended by thousands of mourners.

Khamenei's Legacy Lives On Amidst Mourning

As Iran mourns the loss of its former leader, the legacy of Khamenei lives on, with many of his supporters and allies paying tribute to his long years of service.

Khamenei, who was a key figure in Iran's revolution in 1979, served as the leader of the Islamic Republic for nearly 30 years.

During his tenure, he played a crucial role in shaping Iran's domestic and foreign policies, and his legacy is expected to continue shaping the country's future.