AFP, Tehran

Irani yesterday announced three days of public holidays in the capital Tehran for late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies, state television reported.

“The farewell ceremony and prayers for the martyred leader’s body will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 4th and 5th, in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, and the funeral will be held on Monday, July 6th, and Tehran province will be off for these three days,” IRGC commander Hassan Hassanzadeh, in charge of the ceremonies, was quoted as saying.

Tehran authorities expect an attendance of around 20 million. The northern holy city of Qom will also host a tribute on July 7.

Ali Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 9 in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace.