Millions attend funeral procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader

Tehran’s main avenues were filled on Saturday with thousands of mourners taking part in a state‑organized procession honoring Iran’s late supreme leader. The tightly coordinated march, which began at the Imam Khomeini Square and wound through the city’s historic districts, featured flags, banners and speeches from senior clerics, underscoring the symbolic importance of the ceremony for the nation’s theocratic establishment.

Analysts view the large‑scale gathering as a deliberate display of domestic solidarity by the regime as it enters a new round of diplomatic talks with the United States aimed at easing long‑standing tensions. By staging a highly visible tribute, officials seek to project internal cohesion and political strength, reinforcing their negotiating position while signaling to both supporters and opponents that the leadership remains unified despite external pressures. The procession concluded without incident, and authorities have indicated that the forthcoming negotiations will proceed as scheduled.