TEHRAN — Iran announced that a state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which had been planned for Wednesday evening in Tehran, was postponed “in anticipation of unprecedented turnout,” state television reported.

“The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later,” Iranian television reported on Wednesday after Khamenei was killed at the age of 86 in US-Israeli strikes over the weekend.

On Wednesday morning, authorities had said a tribute would take place that same evening in Tehran before Khamenei’s body was buried in the holy city of Mashhad, where he was from.

State media also announced on Sunday a 40-day public mourning period..

Strikes have pummeled Tehran since Saturday, with missiles targeting military and government infrastructure.

Authorities did not link the postponement to the security situation.

It was partly due to “the expected participation of millions of people and the need to provide the proper infrastructure” for such a crowd, Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, the body organizing the event, told state TV.

On Sunday, thousands gathered in the center of Tehran to mourn Khamenei’s death, journalists said.

The mourners, dressed mostly in black and some crying, chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” in Enghelab (Revolution) Square, with many waving Iran’s flags and holding photos of Khamenei.

Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

Iran’s leaders are currently scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It’s only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being chosen.

Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement. Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei’s son, has long been considered among them — despite the fact he has never been elected or appointed to a government position.

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