Tehran Air Space Closed During Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Funeral Procession Next Week
JAKARTA - The airspace above Tehran will be closed on Monday (6/7) during the funeral ceremony for former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"On Monday, during the farewell ceremony for the late supreme leader of the revolution, the airspace over Tehran will be completely closed; no flights are allowed," the head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, Abuzar Shiroudi, was quoted as saying by the Iranian government television station, IRIB, as reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Friday, July 3.
Authorities in Tehran have set up medical posts in the area around the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, where the official farewell ceremony will take place, according to RIA Novosti correspondent's report.
Various ministries, city governments, and government agencies have been on high alert for the past few days. Various necessary steps have also been taken to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
"Authorities have set up five health posts around the complex and a backup facility with 200 beds is located near the event site, along with mobile health posts. Hundreds of ambulances are on alert to anticipate unforeseen situations," said the Director of Emergency Services of the University of Medical Sciences of Tehran, Mohammad Ismail Tavakoli, as quoted by IRIB.
Images and photos of AliKhamenei from various periods of his life are also displayed throughout the city.
Among all the posters, there is one prominent image depicting the Ayatollah's left fist raised against a black and red background, a typical gesture of Khamenei, as his right hand was paralyzed due to an assassination attempt in 1981.
A monument depicting Khamenei's clenched fist is being erected in one of Tehran's central squares, Enghelab Square.
The Russian delegation, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, will pay the last respects to the Ayatollah.
Khamenei's farewell ceremony and funeral will take place from Saturday (4/7) to Thursday (9/7).
In Tehran, funeral ceremonies and processions will be held until Monday (6/7), while in Qom it will take place on Tuesday (7/7), and in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, on Wednesday (8/7).
Ali Khamenei will be buried in his hometown, Mashhad, in northeastern Iran on Thursday (9/7).
The official ceremony, attended by heads of state, high officials, and representatives of foreign countries, took place in Tehran on Friday.
Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack in Tehran on February 28. After his death, Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, was chosen as Iran's new supreme leader.
Mojtaba has not appeared in public since his appointment, but has made several statements to the Iranian people and published in Iranian official media.