Iran has begun the funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28. Authorities expect around 20 million mourners to attend the farewell events in Tehran and other cities. To feed the massive crowd, Iran’s Basij paramilitary force has prepared 50 million loaves of bread through 16 mobile bakeries. The government has also deployed 2,500 ambulances, 21 helicopters, 100 drones, and arranged 20,000 classrooms for accommodation.

Tehran has implemented its largest-ever traffic plan, banning private vehicles and installing over 6,000 water sprinklers at the Mosalla complex to mitigate the July heat. The Interior Minister said the goal is to stage the largest farewell ceremony in Iran’s history, showcasing the Islamic Republic’s endurance and resistance. However, the large-scale event has caused severe traffic congestion and fuel shortages in the capital.

Foreign dignitaries from Pakistan, China, Turkey, Russia, and other countries attended the ceremony, while no Western officials were invited. Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Ali Khamenei did not attend due to security threats from Israel.