Iran on Saturday began an elaborate five-day funeral ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drawing millions of mourners, senior Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries to Tehran in a display aimed at underscoring national unity and the resilience of the Islamic Republic following the leader’s assassination in a war unleashed by the US and Israel on February 28.
The funeral commemorations will stretch from the streets of Tehran to the holy cities of Qom, Najaf, Karbala and finally Mashhad, where he will be laid to rest.
The public farewell commenced at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where coffins carrying Khamenei and several members of his family, including his daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and young granddaughter who were killed in the same attack, were placed on display ahead of a series of processions and commemorations across Iran and Iraq.
It marks the end of nearly four-decade era that touched almost every branch of the Iranian state.
Khamenei, who took over as Supreme Leader in 1989 after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the country emerged from its war with Iraq, built an office that came to oversee the armed forces, the judiciary, state broadcasting, and the country’s most sensitive strategic appointments.
Under Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emerged as one of the most powerful players in Iran’s security, political and economic life, while Tehran’s investment in ballistic missiles and its uranium enrichment programme , mainly for peaceful purposes became lasting points of friction with the West as Israel and the West doubted it for nuclear weapons.
Iranian authorities expect more than 10 million people and representatives from over 100 countries to participate in the ceremonies, which will culminate in Khamenei’s burial on July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace and one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites.
Iranian officials have portrayed the ceremonies as more than a farewell to a political leader, describing them as a reaffirmation of the country’s revolutionary ideals at a time of heightened tensions with the United States and Israel.
“The martyrdom of Ali Khamenei is a continuation of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein,” political analysts and clerics close to the establishment said, highlighting the symbolic timing of the funeral during the Islamic month of Muharram, a period of particular significance for Shia Muslims.
Red flags associated with calls for vengeance were visible across funeral venues as crowds gathered to pay tribute. Supporters of the late leader urged authorities to retaliate against those responsible for his killing.
Security was visibly heightened throughout Tehran. Iranian authorities announced that Tehran’s airspace would be completely closed on Monday, when the main funeral procession is scheduled to take place.
The IRGC issued a stern warning against any attempt to target the country during the funeral period.
“Any miscalculation will be met with a decisive and more crushing response than ever before,” the Guards said in a statement, amid concerns over possible attacks during events expected to attract millions of participants.
The warning came days after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly said Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, had been “marked for death,” further intensifying regional tensions.
Questions remain over whether Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Supreme Leader following the February 28 assassination, will make a public appearance during the ceremonies.
A large number of senior Iranian officials attended the opening events, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The commander of the IRGC, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, also made a rare public appearance beside Khamenei’s casket.
Foreign delegations from across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eurasia attended the ceremonies, signaling continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran despite months of regional conflict. Among those present were Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili.Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita are representing the Indian government at the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader.
The funeral programme will continue in Tehran through July 6 before moving to the holy city of Qom on July 7. Khamenei’s body will then be transported to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala on July 8, where ceremonies will be held at the Imam Ali and Imam Hussein shrines, before returning to Iran for burial in Mashhad.
Sunday will be devoted to funeral prayers before a central procession on Monday carries coffins roughly 10 kilometres across Iran’s capital, from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square, a route of such significance that authorities have ordered Tehran’s airspace closed for the day.
The sequence of ceremonies will then move beyond the capital, with prayers scheduled in the seminary city of Qom on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the remains will be taken to Iraq, where they are expected to be received by Iraqi officials before stops at the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf and the shrines of Imam Hussein in Karbala, two of the most revered sites in Shia Islam.
The burial is planned for Mashhad, the birthplace of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and home to the Imam Reza shrine, one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims.
Iranian officials view the cross-border funeral route as an effort to emphasize the transnational influence of the Islamic Republic and reinforce its ties with Shia communities across the region.
Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026 in a joint US-Israeli attack against Iran. His death triggered one of the most significant leadership transitions in the history of the Islamic Republic and world leaders are observing how Iran will navigate and what will be the future direction of the country’s domestic and foreign policies.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry vowed on Saturday to avenge the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other victims of US and Israeli strikes, according to a statement carried by state media.
“The wounded hearts of the proud people of Iran and freedom-seekers around the world will not heal except through vengeance against those responsible for the crime of assassinating the martyred leader,” the ministry said.
For Tehran, the funeral is intended not only to honor its longest-serving leader but also to project an image of stability and continuity at a moment when the country remains locked in a broader confrontation with its regional and international adversaries.
