Iran postponed the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike last weekend, citing expectations of large crowds.

The three-day ceremony had been scheduled to start at 10pm local time at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, a mosque in Tehran, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Wednesday.

State television later said the proceedings were being delayed “due to the expected unprecedented presence of mourners”, and a new time would be announced soon.

The funeral is likely to turn into a rally for Islamic Republic supporters who oppose the US and Israeli attacks that have since spiralled into a regional war. Russia and China have also condemned Khamenei’s killing.

Opponents of the regime, by contrast, met Khamenei’s death with celebrations.