Iran sends Trump defiant message with colossal funeral for slain leader

• Iran has launched a weeklong state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, four months after his death during the opening phase of the US-'Israel' war on Iran.
• The ceremony spans five cities across Iran and Iraq, with authorities expecting millions of mourners in one of the largest public mobilizations in the Islamic Republic's history.

Iran has begun a weeklong state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, four months after he was killed during the opening phase of the US-'Israel' war on Iran, in a ceremony aimed at honoring the longtime leader while projecting the resilience of the Islamic Republic.

The funeral, which stretches across five cities in Iran and Iraq, is expected to draw millions of mourners. Officials have described the operation as one of the largest logistical efforts since the founding of the Islamic Republic, with state institutions coordinating transportation, security and religious ceremonies throughout the week.

Iranian authorities said government ministries, universities, labor unions, emergency services, military personnel, humanitarian organizations and religious mourning groups have been mobilized to support the funeral processions and manage the anticipated crowds.

Officials in neighboring Iraq, home to several of Shiite Islam's holiest sites, also expect millions of pilgrims to participate in memorial events as the ceremonies extend beyond Iran's borders.

For more than 10 days, Iranian state media has devoted extensive coverage to Khamenei's legacy, replacing earlier headlines centered on diplomatic talks with the United States. Television channels have aired tribute programs, documentaries and religious commemorations highlighting his decades-long leadership.

The funeral coincides with celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US Independence Day, creating a stark contrast between commemorations in the two countries.

The scale of the funeral is widely viewed as an effort by Tehran to demonstrate that the Islamic Republic remains intact despite the devastating conflict with the United States and 'Israel'.

By organizing an elaborate, religiously symbolic farewell, Iranian authorities seek to present Khamenei as a lasting symbol of national resistance and continuity, while signaling that the country's political and religious establishment intends to endure beyond the loss of its longtime supreme leader.