Iran Conducts Week-Long State Funeral for Late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

From July 3 to July 9, 2026, Iran will hold funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a U.S.–Israeli strike on February 28. The casket will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, then travel to Qom, Najaf, Karbala and be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.

Al Jazeera (website)EuronewsIran stages massive Khamenei funeral to project post-war unity

Khamenei ruled Iran from 1989 until his death at 86, serving as both supreme political leader and top Shia cleric. His killing on the war’s first day postponed burial until the cease-fire.

The Independent

Domestic leaders include President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and IRGC commander Ali Abdollahi. Delegations from over 30 nations, such as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russia’s Dmitry Medvedv (e), China’s He Wei, India’s Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, are present.

Euronews

Officials project attendance between 4 million and 20 million. Preparations include 50 million loaves of bread, 2,500 ambulances, 6,000 sprinklers, 16 mobile bakeries, 700 parking zones and 100 drones. Over 14,000 journalists, including 900 foreign reporters, are expected.

CNN

Ghalibaf called the funeral “the most important event of this century” and urged citizens to “write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran.” Araghchi warned any threat would trigger an immediate response, and Abdollahi cautioned the United States and Israel against miscalculation, promising harsh retaliation.

The Media Line

Some Tehran residents report fuel shortages and say many Iranians are leaving the city instead of attending. Analysts note earlier anti-government protests called for Khamenei’s removal, showing persistent dissent.

New York Times

Police, army and Basij units have sealed roads; vehicle bans and partial airspace closures are in place. Offices are closed Saturday-Monday, and water sprinklers and emergency medical stations have been set up at the Grand Mosalla.

CNN

Attendance estimates vary from 4 million to 20 million; burial dates are reported as July 8 or July 9. Mojtaba Khamenei’s appearance remains unconfirmed, and the number of heads of state present ranges from eight to “more than 100” representatives.

The Hindu

• “We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the US and the Zionist regime, to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country,” — Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

Times of Israel

• “I invite all the Iranian people… to write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence” — Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, parliamentary speaker

Times of Israel

• “standing on the right side of history,” — Esmail Baghaei, foreign ministry spokesperson

Euronews

• “The assassination has made Khamenei far more powerful symbolically in death than he was in life,” — Sina Toossi, senior fellow, Center for International Policy

CNN

The burial concludes the mourning week, after which Mojtaba Khamenei will assume full leadership. Iran’s military has warned of swift retaliation to any violation of the cease-fire, while U.S.–Iran talks on the Strait of Hormuz are slated to resume.

Times of Israel