Iran Begins Week of Mourning for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The capital remains under heavy security as authorities prepare for ceremonial gatherings expected to draw millions of mourners. While the state apparatus projects an image of cohesion and national resilience, the transition of power falls to Mojtaba Khamenei. He inherits a government struggling with persistent international sanctions and a visible erosion of public support.

Global diplomatic missions, including delegations from Russia and China, have arrived in Tehran to pay their respects. This shift in leadership arrives at a precarious moment for the nation, as the new administration faces the immediate task of managing both regional tensions and mounting social upheaval across Iran and key Shi'ite centers in Iraq.