Iran held the second day of public funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, with large crowds gathering in Tehran despite a severe heatwave, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.
Water misters were installed at Tehran's Grand Mosalla Hall and volunteers distributed cold drinks to mourners as the crowds pressed through the heat to view Khamenei's body. The funeral is scheduled to span six days.
The New York Times reported that the public displays of unity among Iran's leadership at the funeral stand in contrast to deep divisions that exist behind the scenes among the country's political factions. The visible togetherness at the ceremony masks significant disagreements about the country's direction following Khamenei's death.
Khamenei was killed during the recent war, and his death has set off what is expected to be a significant period of political transition inside Iran. The country's clerical establishment and military leadership have so far maintained a unified public front during the mourning period.
The Iranian government has not announced a timeline for selecting a successor to Khamenei, who held the position of Supreme Leader for decades and was the most powerful figure in the Islamic Republic.
