Iranian authorities anticipate millions of participants in funeral commemorations for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader. Mourners have already convened in large numbers at Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque, where Khamenei's body is currently lying in state.
The former leader was killed more than four months prior to these ceremonies, in what was described as U.S. and Israeli strikes at the onset of a war. His burial is scheduled for next Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad.
Reporting from Tehran, BBC International correspondent Nawal Al Maghafi noted the presence of crowds of mourners dressed in black. Restrictions are in place for all international media organizations operating in Iran, including a stipulation that Al Maghafi's material not be used by the BBC's Persian Service.