Top Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries have commenced a week of solemn ceremonies in Tehran to honor the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike during the February war. The elaborate funeral procession, delayed due to the conflict, will see millions pay their respects and join grand processions before his burial next week. Notable attendees include world leaders from Iraq, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government anticipates a higher turnout than the 1989 funeral of Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, with millions expected to flood the streets of Tehran, Qom, and other holy cities. The funeral is perceived as a crucial moment for Iran, representing a symbol of unity and a message to the US and Israel following Khamenei's assassination, which unexpectedly strengthened the government rather than causing regime change.