Tehran, May 22: Millions of mourners flocked to a funeral procession in Tehran on Wednesday after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident, footage from Iran's state television showed. The broadcaster showed the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading a prayer ceremony in front of the victim's coffins.

The procession then made its way from Tehran University towards Freedom Square along crowded streets filled with mourners. Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other people were killed when their helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of north-western Iran on Sunday. In the wake of the crash, Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning, ending on Friday. Who Will Take Over If Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies? Who Is Iran's Vice President? Know All About Presidential Line of Succession

Wednesday's funeral ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking political and military representatives, as well as foreign dignitaries, the state news agency IRNA said. Raisi is to be buried in his home town of Mashhad on Thursday at the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam. Ebrahim Raisi Dies: India Announces One-Day State Mourning on May 21 Following Death of Iranian President in Helicopter Crash

Millions Attend Funeral Procession for Iran’s Raisi in Tehran

High-ranking representatives of friendly states are expected to attend, including Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin. Iran's state railway company has organised special trains to take mourners from Tehran to the north-eastern city of Mashhad.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 22, 2024 06:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).