A rally in support of the Iranian leadership is taking place in one of the central squares of the Iranian capital before the start of the national farewell to former leader Ali Khamenei.
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“Yes, the rally is taking place separately from tomorrow’s ceremony, we have been gathering here every day since the very first day of the war (with the United States and Israel). And so it is not only in this square (Wali Asr), but also in others,” one of the participants, named Ali, explained.
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A large poster stretched on the building in front of the square reads: “The last meeting,” recalling that on July 4-5, Iranians will be able to say goodbye to the deceased Ayatollah in the large religious complex named after Imam Khomeini.
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“We’ll be here all night and we’ll go straight from here tomorrow (to the farewell ceremony),” he jokes, talking about his participation.
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Another man named Reza confirmed that a rally in support of the Iranian leadership was taking place in the square. He is also going to say goodbye to the Ayatollah, but plans to do so later in the evening, when it will be cooler, as the heat has been 40 degrees on the streets of Tehran in recent days.
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There are not many participants in the rally – several dozen people, but it is a constant turnover – people passing by on motorcycles and cars sometimes stop to listen to religious chants, to the rhythm of which a man tries to wave a large Iranian flag, as well as girls standing at one of the square’s congresses, as if inviting passersby to join the event.
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At the same time, there are also girls who stand freely with their heads uncovered, although the norms of the women’s dress code require the opposite.
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The farewell to former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei began on July 3 with a separate event for foreign guests, political and public figures. The main part of the funeral will be held from July 4 to July 9 in a number of cities in Iran. It will end with the burial of the Ayatollah in his native Mashhad.
