TEHRAN, Jan. 6 (CGTN) -- A massive funeral procession was held on Monday in the Iranian capital Tehran where millions of Iranians mourned for top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and his companions, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhamdis, deputy top leader of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, reported Mehr news agency.

The body of Soleimani was transferred into the University of Tehran on Monday morning, said the report.

On Sunday, a tide of mourners flooded the Iranian city of Ahvaz, weeping and beating their chests in homage to the top general, which came a day after a funeral ceremony in Iraq's capital of Baghdad.

Soleimani and al-Muhamdis were killed in a U.S. airstrike early Friday near Baghdad International Airport, escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.