WANA (Jul 09) – Mashhad, Iran’s spiritual capital, has taken on a different atmosphere as it prepares for the funeral and burial of Iran’s late leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

 

The city’s streets and buildings have been draped in black mourning banners, reflecting the grief of both pilgrims and residents.

 

Hours before the funeral procession, streets leading to the Imam Reza Shrine is filled with pilgrims and local residents making their way to the shrine to bid a final farewell to the late leader.

 

Black-draped streets, mourning flags, citywide decorations, and preparations along the funeral route illustrate Mashhad’s readiness to host what officials described as a historic ceremony.

 

The governor of Mashhad said 3,000 service stations have been set up across the city and on roads leading to Mashhad to provide services to the public.

 

Under the revised schedule, the funeral ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Mashhad. The procession had originally been scheduled for Thursday morning but was postponed until the afternoon due to the large turnout at the funeral ceremonies held in Iraq.

 

Minutes ago, the aircraft carrying the body of Iran’s late leader departed Najaf Airport for Mashhad.