Iranian leaders have begun tributes for the former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, whose coffin is displayed in Tehran

On Friday, Iranian leaders began to pay tribute to the former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, whose coffin is displayed in the religious complex in Tehran, where national funerals are taking place.

Ahmad Vahidi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards, was among those who expressed their respect, marking his first public appearance since the outbreak of the war in February. Authorities expect between 15 and 20 million participants in Tehran, and Khamenei's remains will be displayed until Monday. The funerals, postponed from March due to the conflict, are expected to be the largest in Iran's history. The funeral procession will parade through the streets of Tehran, and the remains will be buried on July 9 in Mashhad. The event is taking place in a tense atmosphere, with heightened security measures and traffic restrictions.

The coffin will also be displayed in Iraq, where the Shia community is the majority.