The burial process for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian, and their fellow passengers, who tragically died in a helicopter crash, has commenced. Iranian media outlet Mehr reported that the first funeral took place on Tuesday morning in Tabriz, Iran. Concurrently, prayer programs have started nationwide.

Tens of thousands of Iranian citizens gathered in the northwestern city of Tabriz, marching from a central square to attend the funeral of President Raisi and his eight companions. The mourners carried Iranian flags and photographs of the late president.

In an interview with Iran's state news agency IRNA, Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansoori stated that after the initial funeral in Tabriz, Raisi's body was transported to Qom city in East Azerbaijan province for a second funeral scheduled at 4:30 PM local time.

Following the ceremonies in Qom, the bodies will be taken to Tehran. A funeral will be held at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning, followed by a memorial service in the afternoon, which will be attended by high-ranking foreign officials. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to attend the Tehran funeral, where an even larger crowd is anticipated.

After the ceremonies in Tehran, President Raisi's body will be transported to Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city in the northeast, where he was born and raised. Organizers in Mashhad plan to bury Raisi next Thursday in the holy city.

In response to President Raisi's death, Iran is observing five days of mourning starting Tuesday, as declared by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Last Sunday afternoon, local time, the helicopter carrying President Raisi crashed in the north-western Jalfa mountain area. The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian and seven others in the helicopter. They all died in the accident.

The country's new presidential election will be held on June 28, according to state media. However, Vice-President Mohammad Mokhbar has already been appointed to serve as the interim president. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei approved Mokhbar's appointment after President Raisi's death was confirmed. Additionally, the cabinet has appointed Ali Bagheri Kani, the state minister for foreign affairs, as acting foreign minister.