Funeral of Iran's former supreme leader 'intensely political moment' - BBC News

Authorities expect up to 20 million people to attend ceremonies across Iran and Iraq over the coming days.

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CloseVast crowds of Iranians loyal to the Islamic Republic have gathered in Tehran for the first day of funeral ceremonies for the country's former supreme leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes at the start of the war.

Iranian state media say six days of ceremonies will span several locations across Iran and neighbouring Iraq, before he is buried in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.

The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is in Tehran as people prepare to head to the vast complex where the former supreme leader is lying in state.