Thousands mourn Raisi in funeral procession

Thousands of Iranians walked sombrely through the streets on Tuesday for the funeral procession of President Ebrahim Raisi and seven members of his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash.

Waving Iranian flags and portraits of the late president, the mourners set off from a central square in the northwestern city of Tabriz, where Raisi was headed when his helicopter crashed on Sunday.

Raisi's body is expected to be buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, on Thursday.

This week of mourning will be a test for Iran’s conservative leaders who want to send a clear and convincing signal of continuity.