Iran has begun the next stage of the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with his body being taken from Tehran to the holy city of Qom before continuing to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq ahead of his final burial in Mashhad on July 9.

Iranian authorities said the burial procession follows funeral prayers held at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where senior political, military and religious leaders joined thousands of mourners to pay their final respects. The prayers were led by senior cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

Among those attending were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior military commanders and members of Khamenei's family. Three of his sons appeared at the ceremony, while Iran's current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend because of security concerns, according to Iranian media and Reuters.

Officials said the body will travel through Qom before being taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, allowing mourners to pay their final respects. The funeral ceremonies will conclude with burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown, on July 9.

Iran has declared a week of national mourning, while schools and public facilities have been opened to accommodate millions of visitors arriving from across the country and abroad. Authorities expect one of the largest public gatherings in the nation's history during the final burial ceremonies.