Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who served as Supreme Leader of Iran, died prior to Saturday, when week-long funeral ceremonies began in Tehran and are scheduled to continue in Iraq. Iranian authorities stated that up to 15 million people are expected to attend events that opened with the national anthem, religious eulogies, and Koran readings at a large prayer complex. Separate unverified reports describe government directives requiring business closures and employee attendance during the mourning period.