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.