Summary

  • We've now ended our live coverage - read more in our news story here

  • Thousands of people are on the streets in Tehran for the funeral procession for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - watch live above

  • Crowds have been making their way through the Iranian capital since the early hours of Monday, with people seen waving flags and holding up pictures of the late ayatollah

  • It's a carefully choreographed and intensely political event, writes Lyse Doucet, with Iran's new leaders wanting to send a message of strength and resistance

  • Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than 35 years, was killed in US-Israeli air strikes in February - his funeral began on Friday, with events planned over the coming week

  • The burial is scheduled for Thursday in the north-eastern city of Mashhad - Iranian authorities say millions are expected to attend the "funeral of the century"

  • Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been named his successor, though he hasn't been seen publicly since taking power and has so far been absent from his father's funeral

  • A fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran is currently holding while talks on a permanent peace deal continue

Watch: The BBC's Lyse Doucet says this is "the spectacle Iran wants the world to see"

Live Reporting

Edited by Alex Smith and Tom Spender, with chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet reporting from Tehran

  1. Thousands gather in Tehran as procession begins

    We're seeing some images from the Iranian capital on Monday morning, as the procession gets under way.

    Thousands of people can be seen gathering on the streets. Official media has warned of a risk of crowd crushes and strict security measures have been imposed.

    A mourner holds an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as people gather for the funeral processionReuters
    A landscape shot of a large crowd of people gathered under rows of flagsReuters
    Mourners holding flags and banners gather in a squareReuters

  2. Watch: BBC reports as emotion and politics merge in Tehran at funeral

    Vast crowds loyal to the Islamic Republic have gathered in Tehran for the funeral ceremony in recent days.

    The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet sent this report from the Iranian capital on Sunday.

    Lyse Doucet is reporting from Tehran on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service. These restrictions apply to all international media organisations operating in Iran.

  3. Funeral procession for Iran's former supreme leader begins in Tehran

    A woman weeps as people gather at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla for a farewell ceremony for Iran's late Ayatollah Ali KhameneiGetty Images

    The funeral procession for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has started its journey through the capital Tehran.

    Khamenei ruled Iran for more than 35 years, before he was killed in US-Israeli air strikes in February.

    His funeral began on Friday, and will take place across seven days with events in locations within both Iran and Iraq. Iranian authorities have said 12-20 million people are expected to attend the various ceremonies.

    Khamenei's successor, son Mojtaba Khamenei, has so far been conspicuously absent from his father's funeral - which has been attended by a number of senior regime figures

    Speculation about Mojtaba's condition - fuelled by rumours he was wounded in the same US-Israel air strikes that killed his father - has continued as he has not appeared in public since his appointment in early March.

    A map shows the locations in Iran and Iraq where the funeral celebrations will be found.