Powerful Iranian general seen in public amid preparation for supreme leader’s vast funeral

TEHRAN, Iran — A powerful Iranian general not seen in public for months has been photographed at a service for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the country prepared for a sweeping dayslong funeral.

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Photos published online by Iranian state media Thursday night showed Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who leads the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) , after reportedly attending a meeting about Khamenei’s funeral.

Vahidi was then seen sitting alongside Khamenei’s casket at what The Associated Press reported was a smaller service held Thursday night near the late supreme leader’s former home in downtown Tehran.

The funeral preparations come after Iran warned the United States and Israel on Thursday against launching any attack on the country ahead of the event, which is expected to be attended by millions.

Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned the two countries “to avoid any miscalculations and to think about the harsh and regret-inducing reactions” they might face.

Iranian officials gathered in Tehran on Friday to pay their early respects to Khamenei, whose funeral is expected to be a show of force as the regime tries to demonstrate its continued hold over the nation after surviving the U.S. and Israel’s devastating assault.

In images published by The Associated Press and Getty Images a large crowd surrounded the coffin carrying Khamenei’s remains on Friday morning, some weeping as they paid tribute to a leader who was worshipped by some and reviled by others.

Outside the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque members of the IRGC could be seen kneeling. Under Khamenei, the IRGC became the top military, political and economic force in the country.

Millions of Iranians are expected to pay their respects to Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly four decades. Dmitry Medvedev, former president and prime minister of Russia, was among those to arrive from abroad ahead of the formal ceremony, according to state-affiliated Mehr News.

Those gathering for the lying in state and funeral will contrast with huge nationwide protests in January that were met by a deadly crackdown by security forces that left thousands dead and sent shockwaves around the world.

Security was tight as officials prepared for the massive funeral procession for the late leader, with Tehran’s mayor saying it could be the biggest single event in this city’s modern history, and organizers expecting between 15 and 20 million people.

An NBC News crew in Tehran observed little traffic on the streets, and while shops were open, they were expected to be closed throughout the official period of mourning.

People were being told that if they cannot reach the city to leave their cars on the highway on the outskirts, and take buses into central Tehran. Public transportation also made free for the funeral events.

Khamenei was killed at the age of 86, along with members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild, at the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched sweeping attacks on the Islamic Republic.

His son, Mojtaba Khamenei , 56, who was wounded in the attack, took up the helm in March after being appointed Iran’s new supreme leader, but he has yet to be seen in public, with questions swirling around his condition.

Photos of Khamenei from his early years in power to his final days were on display across the capital Friday, ahead of the funeral processions expected to be attended by millions.

A viewing of Khamenei’s coffin and prayers are expected to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, with a funeral procession expected to flood the streets of the capital Monday.

Separate events will also be held in Qom, as well as in Iraq, with the slain leader to ultimately be laid to rest on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, home to the most prominent Shiite religious shrine in Iran.

The date of Khamenei’s funeral was only confirmed last month, days before a memorandum of understanding meant to mark an end to fighting was signed between the U.S. and Iran.

Since then, efforts toward a lasting end to the war have faltered, with talks in Qatar’s capital, Doha, in recent days, failing to yield significant results.

Amin Khodadadi and Richard Engel reported from Tehran; Chantal Da Silva reported from London.