Iran began six days of funereal ceremony for its slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what is expected to become a massive show of defiance by the Islamic Republic against the West.
The turnout is set to be one of the largest gatherings in history. Iranian authorities predict that, beginning Saturday, up to 20 million people will turn out to honor Khamenei, who was killed alongside several family members in the first wave of Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Tehran more than four months ago. Khamenei’s body was laid in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque Friday.
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