Tens of thousands of Iranians gather in the center of Tehran, near the building of the University of Tehran, to take part in the mourning ceremony for President Ebrahim Raisi, who died on May 19 in a helicopter crash.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is expected to speak.
Since night, crowds of people have been standing near the Khomeini Great Mosque in Tehran, preparing for the funeral ceremony.
The Iranian Mahar agency writes that representatives of different religions, including local rabbis, will participate in the ceremony.
Leaders of the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as high-ranking representatives of Hezbollah, arrived in Tehran to participate in the ceremony.
It is also reported that the funeral of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian will take place on May 23.
On May 19, 2024, a Bell-212 helicopter carrying the Iranian President and other dignitaries crashed into a mountain near the village of Tawil, 30 km from the border with Azerbaijan, and completely burned out. Killed were Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, Friday Imam of the city of Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale Hashem, Chief of the Presidential Guard General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mehdi Mousavi, First Pilot Colonel Sayed Taher Mostafavi, co-pilot Colonel Mohsen Daryanush and technician Major Behrouz Gadi.
The investigation into the circumstances of the plane crash continues.
Let us note that the President of Iran and those accompanying him flew on an American-made Bell-212 helicopter, produced about 30 years ago. Americans have not been servicing American-made helicopters in Iran for a long time due to sanctions.