The funeral ceremonies of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have drawn global attention, with millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries expected to participate. Amid the preparations, a report by the German weekly WELT has triggered international discussion.
According to the report, nearly 3,000 graves were prepared in advance at Tehran's Behesht-e Zahra cemetery as part of emergency planning. Citing an alleged confidential letter, the report claims officials estimated that between 1,500 and 3,000 people could die in a possible stampede due to massive crowds and extreme heat.
The report also says emergency authorities developed disaster-response plans and even created a special unit to handle potential fatalities and missing persons if a major incident occurred.
These precautions are believed to have been influenced by the 2020 funeral of Qassem Soleimani, where a deadly stampede killed at least 100 people and injured more than 200.
However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the claims regarding the alleged 3,000 graves or the reported confidential document. The report has nevertheless sparked widespread international attention.
