A gigantic statue of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's ring-bearing hand installed at Azadi Square

The body of Iran's martyred Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was taken from the Grand Mosque to Azadi Square, where millions of people attended his final journey. According to foreign media reports, a gigantic statue of Khamenei's ring-adorned hand has been installed in Azadi Square in central Tehran, which has emerged as a new symbol of resistance during his funeral rites in a short span of time. Supporters of the martyred Khamenei say that after the US and Israeli attack on February 28, this ring became a prominent symbol of his identity. The statue was prepared in just four days and is being regarded as a symbol of national resistance, resistance, and unity.

It is clear that on February 28, in addition to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter were also martyred in the US and Israeli attack, whose coffins have also been placed for the public. The 7-day funeral rites of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Friday (July 3) from Tehran, in which delegations from over 100 countries are participating, while more than 20 million people are expected to attend to pay their respects. Participants held Iranian flags, while also carrying pictures of Khamenei and his son and potential successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Participants, dressed in black, also wore the red, white, and green colors of the Iranian flag and chanted slogans in support of Iran. Before the public procession, Khamenei's coffin was placed for Iranian high officials and foreign dignitaries, and later it was placed in a special glass enclosure for public viewing, along with the coffins of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter.

Today, after the central funeral procession in Tehran, Khamenei's body will be transferred to Qom, where further religious ceremonies will be held at the Shia religious center on Tuesday. Afterwards, on Wednesday, the body will be taken to Iraq, where religious rituals will be performed in Najaf and Karbala, and then on Thursday, the body will be brought back to Iran, where another funeral procession will be held in Mashhad.