Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led prayers at funeral processions for late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage. Tehran residents received text messages urging them to attend the funeral.

The focus of mourning for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage switched to Tehran, on Wednesday, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital to join funeral processions.

According to the AFP news agency, Tehran residents received text messages urging them to attend the funeral.

People gathered in and around the University of Tehran, many holding portraits of Raisi.

Huge banners have gone up hailing the late president as “the martyr of service” and “the servant of the disadvantaged.”

The processions, which will be attended by foreign dignitaries, are planned to begin at the university and head to the central Enghelab Square, state media report.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to lead prayers for Raisi and his companions who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday.