Thousands of mourners thronged to Tehran to pay their respect to Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khameini on Saturday.
Sprayed with mists of water to keep cool in temperatures that may nudge 40C in Tehran over the next days, thousands of women and men filled the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran.
“The leader was a father to us all. With his passing, we have all been left orphaned… There was no one like him. He was truly unique and peerless,” said Mohammad Mirsalehi, 38, a cleric told AFP.
Hamidreza Shabani, a student, 18, added: “We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader”.
Authorities believe the ceremonies will mobilise more than 10 million people in the capital alone.
