Despite what the article describes as their longstanding bias, international outlets acknowledged the martyred Imam's role in shaping a strong Iran.

The Guardian reported that millions are expected to attend the six-day funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei across Iran. It wrote that the large-scale funeral in five Iranian cities is intended to convey a message of resistance to the world.

The newspaper also wrote that the ceremonies are expected to be "an epic display of personal mourning, national strength, resilience, and social unity," with a scale designed to project political and religious messages of resistance internationally. It added that, at the request of Iraqi officials, the Leader's body will also be taken through the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

In the closing section of its report, The Guardian recalled remarks made by Ayatollah Khamenei in one of his final speeches on February 17, quoting him as saying: "Someone like me does not pledge allegiance to someone like Yazid. A nation with Iran's culture does not pledge allegiance to corrupt rulers like those governing the US."

The Washington Post published a report titled "What to Know About the Funeral and Burial of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei," outlining the ceremonies to be held in Iran and Iraq.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the body of Iran's Leader, martyred in US and Israeli attacks, was transferred to Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Friday ahead of the official funeral ceremonies, citing Iranian state media.

AFP also quoted a worker at the site, wearing a hat and scarf to shield himself from the intense heat, as saying: "We are planting flowers and watering shrubs for the farewell ceremony of our martyred Leader. People will come from across Iran. The crowds will be enormous."

The agency wrote that Ayatollah Khamenei, regarded by many Shiites as a spiritual figure, was martyred at the age of 86 in an attack on his residential compound in central Tehran. His body will lie in state for three days at Tehran's Grand Mosalla, decorated with banners displaying his photographs and quotations.

AFP added that the ceremonies are expected to attract 15 to 20 million mourners, making them the largest funeral in the country's history. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the event as "one of the most important moments" in Iran's history.

The Palestine Chronicle, referring to the ceremony's slogan, wrote under the headline: "Rise Up: Iran Awaits Khamenei's Funeral as an Iranian Official Issues a Regional Warning."

The publication quoted Ghalibaf calling on the public to attend the funeral, describing it as one of the most significant moments in Iran's contemporary history. He said: "Iran today stands on the threshold of creating one of the greatest scenes in its history as it bids farewell to a great man who dedicated his life to the independence and dignity of his people."

Modern Ghana published a CNN YouTube video reporting that Iran is preparing for a massive funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei and explaining the planned ceremonies.

Reuters also published a report on the ceremony at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla, where foreign dignitaries paid their respects to Ayatollah Khamenei.

Reuters wrote: "The tribute ceremony for Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's late Leader, who was martyred in the February 28 attack by the US and Israel, was held at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran with the participation of Iranian officials and representatives from various countries."

Indian media also gave prominent coverage to the ceremonies. IndiaTimes reported: "Thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran as the historic six-day funeral ceremonies for Khamenei began."

The outlet also published a video of Iranians mourning the martyred Leader, carrying the English caption: "Floods of people take to Tehran's streets to bid farewell to Iran's beloved Leader."

One participant, speaking through tears, said she felt profound grief because "Iran has lost its father."

NDTV published a video under the headline: "Iran Bids Farewell to Ayatollah Khamenei."

The Independent reported that Tehran had begun public mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei and stated that the ceremonies are expected to bring 20 million people into the streets. It added that officials view the public turnout as a "referendum" on the Islamic Republic.

Al Jazeera English published a detailed report outlining the time and location of the mourning ceremonies. It noted that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assumed leadership of Iran in 1989, following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Islamic Revolution and became the country's first Supreme Leader.

The Associated Press highlighted Ayatollah Khamenei's role in transforming Iran into a regional power and building the Islamic Republic's military capabilities.

The agency wrote: "During more than three decades of leadership, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dramatically reshaped Iran, turning it into a regional power while increasingly placing it in confrontation with Israel and the US."

AP also noted that Khamenei strengthened Iran's military capabilities, including through support for regional allies, writing that during his leadership Iran built the Axis of Resistance, including support for Lebanon's Hezbollah, which forced Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 and has since repeatedly fought Israeli forces.

The report also referred to the Leader's insistence on Iran's nuclear rights, noting that he advanced Iran's nuclear program while issuing a fatwa declaring nuclear weapons incompatible with Islamic beliefs, yet vowing that Iran would never relinquish its right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program.

The New York Times, in an article titled "Mass Mourning: Iran Prepares a Six-Day Funeral Across Two Countries for Its Supreme Leader," wrote that few funerals in history have matched the size, scale, and significance of the ceremonies Iran is organizing.

The newspaper reported that officials expect the ceremonies, which began Friday in Tehran and will continue for nearly a week across at least five cities in Iran and Iraq, to draw tens of millions of participants.

It also noted that Ayatollah Khamenei was not only Iran's head of state but also a Shiite cleric with followers in Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and elsewhere in the region, whose image frequently appeared in Shiite processions.

According to The New York Times, Iran seeks to present the funeral as a moment of national unity, shared mourning, administrative capability, and resistance against foreign adversaries. The ceremony's official emblem features Ayatollah Khamenei's clenched fist alongside the slogan "Rise Up."

Deutsche Welle English reported that Iran has turned the funeral into a demonstration of strength. Referring to the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the US, it wrote that placing the Lebanon front as the first article of the agreement suggests that Ayatollah Khamenei's foreign policy will continue under the leadership of his son.

The Al Araby television network headlined its coverage: "Iran Bids Farewell to Its Great Leader; Funeral Ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei Begin in Tehran," highlighting the participation of representatives from around 100 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The network added that 15 to 20 million people are expected to attend the funeral.

Broad Coverage Across Arab Media

The official farewell and tribute ceremony for the martyred Leader received extensive coverage across Arabic-language media, which highlighted the event, its symbolism, and its broader significance.

Arab Journal, under the headline "Tehran Bids Farewell to the Leader of the Ummah," reported that representatives from 100 countries are participating in the historic funeral and that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, is guiding a new phase of strategic strength.

The publication wrote that Iran, together with free people and Muslims around the world, is witnessing a historic moment as the official funeral arrangements begin. It described the event as reinforcing Iran's position as a major regional power and a beacon of hope for those resisting Western hegemony and Zionist occupation, while noting that Tehran is welcoming large official and public delegations reflecting the martyred Leader's strategic achievements over recent decades.

Al Mayadeen devoted extensive coverage to the ceremony and statements by senior Iranian officials, emphasizing that Tehran is preparing for a historic funeral attended by millions and marked by broad international participation, with ceremonies lasting six days across Iran and Iraq.

Al Jazeera Arabic chose the headline: "From Preparations to the Participation of Millions: Tehran on the Eve of Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral," reporting that the Iranian capital has been draped in black in an Ashura-like atmosphere.

Iraq's Al Ahd television network provided live coverage of the arrival of official delegations and political and religious figures attending the funeral and broadcast expert analysis of the event's significance.

Iraq's Al Nujaba network also aired the ceremonies live and provided extensive coverage.

Lebanon's Al Manar reported that the farewell ceremony is taking place with broad political and public participation, alongside the presence of foreign delegations.

Palestine Today also devoted extensive coverage to the ceremony, detailing the participation of foreign delegations.

Other Arabic-language outlets, including Alsumaria News, the Palestinian agencies Shehab and Sama, and the newspapers Asharq Al-Awsat, An-Nahar, and Al-Akhbar, also extensively covered the ceremonies, highlighting the attendance of prominent foreign figures and the participation of millions in the official funeral.

Numerous other international media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC News, CBS News, i24, The Hill, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, BBC, Sky News, Financial Times, and many others, published similar reports, acknowledging the martyred Leader's role in the emergence of a strong Iran.