Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Funeral Preparations Underway; IRGC Chief General Ahmad Vahidi Appears Publicly

Tehran. As preparations are underway for the day-long funeral program of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which begins on Friday, the chief of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, General Ahmad Vahidi, who has not been seen publicly for a long time, has suddenly appeared in public. Photos and videos released by Iranian state media show him participating in a funeral-related meeting and sitting next to his casket at a tribute ceremony organized near Khamenei's former residence in Tehran.

According to state media, a small mourning ceremony was organized in the central area of Tehran on Thursday night in honor of the 86-year-old Khamenei. At the ceremony, mourners dressed in black threw scarves and other items towards the coffin. This is considered a traditional practice of paying respects in Iran.

According to analysts, Vahidi played an influential role in setting Iran's hardline stance in potential negotiations for a permanent end to the war with the United States. He is believed to be one of the members of the limited group in direct contact with the new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in an Israeli attack on February 28, and his father Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in the same attack.

Vahidi's appearance is being given special importance as he had not been seen in public after February 8, a few weeks before the war began. The video broadcast by state media shows Khamenei's coffin, placed in the Hosseiniyah complex in Tehran, decorated with red tulips. A red flag with white calligraphy of 'Ya Hussein', which holds special significance in Shia Islam, was draped over the coffin. This flag is also seen as a symbol of the blood and revenge of those unjustly killed and is flown over the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq.

Iran is preparing to begin Khamenei's day-long funeral program from Saturday. His body is scheduled to be taken to various cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq. The funeral will begin from the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. It is expected that roads and daily life will be affected due to the mourning ceremony there. Government officials have stated that a large number of mourners will participate to pay their final respects to Khamenei, who led Iran with a confrontational policy towards the West for decades.