State funeral of Ali Khamenei
_(1404)_123.jpg) The Grand Mosalla of Tehran (pictured in 2025), where Khamenei's body was to lie in state | |
| Date | July 4–9, 2026 |
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| Location |
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| Participants | Iranian officials and clerics, relatives and followers |
| Burial | Imam Reza shrine |
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Personal Revolutionary era and presidency
Protests, slogans, and social policy Works and writings   |
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The state funeral of the second supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, is expected to take place throughout a three-day period in cities including Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, following his assassination on 28 February.[1] It was originally expected to take place in Tehran and Mashhad from 4 to 6 March 2026 but was postponed due to the Iran war.[2][3] It was announced later that the funeral ceremonies are scheduled for July 4–9, 2026, across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with authorities preparing for millions of regional participants while managing significant security and logistical concerns following a lengthy delay in the announcement.[4]
Background
[edit]Khamenei was assassinated at the onset of the 2026 Iran war on 28 February at 08:10 (IRST), at his residence in Tehran, Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting confirmed Khamenei's death at around 05:00 (IRST) the following day.[5][6][7] The government announced a 40-day mourning period and a week-long public holiday.[8] Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchild were also killed in the strikes.[9][10][6]
Khamenei was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei, following his election as Supreme Leader on 8 March 2026.[11]
Prelude
[edit]The public were expected to observe the body of Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall at the Grand Mosalla of Tehran.[12] The Fars News Agency stated that Khamenei would be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in his hometown of Mashhad.[13] However, on 18 April, the Astan Quds Razavi foundation said that the burial location had not yet been decided.[14]
On 9 April, the fortieth-day anniversary of Khamenei's death was marked with processions and ceremonies in Iran.[15]
On 2 June, Iranian officials and state media announced that the funeral would take place over three days and would involve public ceremonies in several Iranian cities, including a 24-hour ceremony in Tehran. The funeral would be held on the 4th of July, coinciding with the American Independence Day, and ending in the 9th of July according to the Tasnim News.[16]
According to statements from Iran’s official commemorative committee and ISNA, the funeral and burial ceremonies for Seyyed Ali Khamenei are scheduled to include four members of his family reported to have been killed in the same attack. The individuals named are Dr. Mesbah al-Hoda Bagheri-Kani (son-in-law), Seyyedeh Boshra Hosseini Khamenei (daughter), Zahra Haddad Adel (daughter-in-law), and Zahra Mohammad Golpayegani (granddaughter).[17][18]
Funeral and burial dates
[edit]According to reports from Iranian state media, farewell ceremonies will be held in Tehran on July 3 and 4, followed by a procession in Qom on July 5, and a transfer of the body to Iraq on July 7, before returning to Iran for final rites and burial in Mashhad at the shrine of the eighth Shia imam, on July 8.[19][4] The funeral, originally scheduled for March, but postponed due to the long-running conflict between Iran, the US and Israel.[20] The significant delay between his death and the announcement of these dates has fueled widespread speculation, though it is believed that extensive security concerns and the potential for attacks played a major role in the timing. Furthermore, authorities face the immense logistical challenge of managing such a large-scale event safely, particularly in light of past tragedies like the 2020 funeral of Qasem Soleimani, which resulted in a fatal crowd crush.[4]
Participants
[edit]Anticipating up to 35 million attendees, Iranian authorities are preparing for a funeral that could surpass the historic crowds of Ayatollah Khomeini's 1989 ceremonies. The event is expected to draw millions from across the region, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, with some Iraqi officials even suggesting a transfer of the body to Najaf or Karbala before the final burial.[19] Some reports further extended the expected participation to Shia communities in Bangladesh, India, and Yemen, describing the funeral as a broader transnational religious gathering with symbolic commemorations reported across parts of the wider Islamic world.[21] Even so, questions remain regarding whether the Islamic Republic’s new leader will attend the proceedings.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Sands, Leo; Nikounazar, Leily (2 June 2026). "Iran Reveals 3-Day Funeral Plan for Ayatollah Khamenei, After Long Delay". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Iranians to bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Khamenei at Tehran ceremony". Reuters. 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Iran delays Khamenei funeral as US and Israeli bombardment continues". BBC News. 4 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Iran: officials announce dates for Ali Khamenei funeral and burial". Euronews. 13 June 2026.
- ^ "Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, state media says". BBC. 28 February 2026. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ a b Jon Gambrell; Melanie Lidman; Josh Boak; Eric Tucker (28 February 2026). "Iranian state media say country's supreme leader is dead". AP News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
Citing unidentified sources, the semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the Revolutionary Guard, reported that several relatives of Khamenei were also killed, including a daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchild.
- ^ "Ayatollah Khamenei Death: Official Confirmation". Islamic Info Center. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "Iran announces 40 days of mourning, 7 public holidays after Khamenei's death". Khaleej Times. 1 March 2026.
- ^ Ben Ari, Lior (2 March 2026). "Reports in Iran: Khamenei's wife dies from her wounds". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ Suter, Tara (2 March 2026). "Khamenei's wife dies from injuries sustained in US, Israeli attack: State media". The Hill. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Mojtaba Khamenei, son of late supreme leader, named his successor". The Associated Press. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026 – via NewsNation.
- ^ "Iran to begin three-day funeral rites for late Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran". France 24. 4 March 2026. Archived from the original on 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Iran postpones Khamenei funeral over likely unprecedented turnout". Daily Sabah. AFP. 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Burial site of Khamenei not yet determined, religious foundation says". Iran International. 18 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ^ Abedi, Hooman (9 April 2026). "Islamic Republic marks Khamenei 40th day with burial still unclear". Iran International. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ^ "Funeral of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to Begin in Tehran on July 4 - Society/Culture news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ^ "Iran Schedules Funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei for Post-Ashura Period". en.isna.ir. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ "Funeral service for Iran's martyred Leader to be held in Iraq". Mehr News Agency. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ^ a b "Iran expects up to 35 million people to attend Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral". The New Arab. 27 June 2026.
- ^ "Iran announces funeral, burial dates for late Supreme Leader Khamenei". Al-Jazeera. 13 June 2026.
- ^ "Farewell to Martyr Leader in Tehran, Funeral in Qom, Burial in Mashhad". en. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
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