Millions gather in Tehran as Iran begins week-long farewell to assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei

Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): A sea of mourners converged on Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla on Saturday as Iran commenced a week-long series of funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The solemn event began with the national anthem, Quranic recitations and religious tributes honouring the late leader.

Iranian authorities are using the funeral as a demonstration of national unity and support for the Islamic Republic following Khamenei's death in February.

His 37-year tenure as supreme leader came to an abrupt end after the United States (US) and Israel launched an airstrike on his family residence during the opening day of the war, killing him, his young granddaughter and several other members of his family.

State television showed Khamenei's coffin draped in the Iranian flag with his signature black turban resting on top.

Beside it were four coffins carrying the bodies of his slain relatives, all placed on a large black platform designed to resemble the Kaaba, the sacred cube at the heart of Islam's holiest site in Mecca.

The sprawling prayer complex was packed with mourners carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the late leader.

According to state broadcaster Seda va Sima, chants of "Death to America" reverberated throughout the gathering.

Videos circulated by other state-run media outlets also captured crowds shouting slogans calling for revenge against those they hold responsible for Khamenei's death.

To provide relief from the intense summer temperatures, cooling mist was sprayed over the crowds from rooftops. Khamenei's coffin is expected to remain at the Mosalla until Sunday evening before being taken to the holy cities of Qom, Najaf and Karbala.

His final burial is scheduled for Thursday in Mashhad, home to Iran's most revered pilgrimage shrine.

The coffin was first presented to the public late on Thursday, drawing thousands of emotional supporters who wept, swayed to mourning hymns and struck their heads in grief while flowers were tossed from the bier into the crowd.

On Friday, it was placed in state inside the grand prayer hall built in honour of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Officials are preparing for millions of people to participate in the funeral processions over the coming days and have arranged transportation, food and accommodation to facilitate the large turnout.

Meanwhile, Iran's newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared in public since reportedly sustaining injuries in the same strike that killed his father.

To accommodate the influx of visitors, schools across Tehran have been opened to provide temporary lodging for pilgrims attending the funeral, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran's ISNA news agency reported that the country's education minister said more than 5,000 schools and between 40,000 and 50,000 classrooms nationwide have been made available to host mourners.

Iranian officials expect the funeral ceremonies in Tehran to draw more than 10 million participants, including delegations representing over 100 countries.