Story perspectives

15-20 Million Mourn Khamenei; Funeral Tours Four Cities

7/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Organizers expect 15-20 million mourners and 900 foreign journalists as Khamenei’s body lies in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla and the public funeral begins Saturday.
The funeral schedule includes processions in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and farewells in Najaf and Karbala, with burial at Imam Reza shrine.
Iranian officials have deployed services and helicopters to mitigate heatstroke risk while President Masoud Pezeshkian says the funeral should symbolize unity.

History

Historical Context

When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died on 3 June 1989, his state funeral drew up to 10 million mourners, cementing the ritual’s role in national unity. The Assembly of Experts then appointed Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, amending the constitution to drop the marja requirement. Today’s funeral for Khamenei mirrors that 1989 precedent, reinforcing the regime’s cohesion and global visibility.

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Story summary

Organizers expect 15-20 million mourners and 900 foreign journalists as Khamenei’s body lies in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla and the public funeral begins Saturday.
The funeral schedule includes processions in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and farewells in Najaf and Karbala, with burial at Imam Reza shrine.
Iranian officials have deployed services and helicopters to mitigate heatstroke risk while President Masoud Pezeshkian says the funeral should symbolize unity.

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