Key facts
- Iran is preparing for the largest state funeral in its history for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- The funeral ceremonies will span five cities across Iran and Iraq over six days, beginning Saturday.
- Khamenei died nearly four months ago in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
- An estimated 20 million people are expected to attend the main procession in Tehran.
- The funeral events will include ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad.
- The funeral is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US regarding a memorandum of understanding.
Iran is preparing for what is described as the largest state funeral in the history of the Islamic Republic for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in February following US-Israeli strikes. The ceremonies are scheduled to span five cities across Iran and Iraq over six days, beginning Saturday.
Khamenei served as Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 years, making him the second-longest-serving holder of the position since the 1979 revolution. His body has been lying in state for four months due to the ongoing war, a ceasefire, and subsequent negotiations. Authorities have set the funeral timing for a period of relative de-escalation, with Iran and the US pausing exchanges of fire as talks on a memorandum of understanding continue.
Ceremonies will commence in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday at the Mosalla prayer complex. A major procession is planned for Monday along a 10-kilometer route from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square, with an estimated 20 million people expected to attend. The procession will then move to Qom on July 7, followed by ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. The final burial is scheduled for Mashhad on July 9, with an estimated eight to ten million attendees.
The Basij paramilitary organization is coordinating logistics, with highways being converted into parking areas and various public facilities repurposed for accommodation. The IRGC will handle security and crowd control. Preparations have been overseen by a committee chaired by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. It remains uncertain if Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Ayatollah, will attend, with reports suggesting he sustained serious injuries in the strikes that killed his father.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have confirmed their attendance. The participation of leaders from Gulf Arab states, Russia, and China is yet to be determined. The scale of the planned funeral invites comparisons to the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, the 2020 funeral of IRGC Commander Qassem Soleimani, and the 2024 funeral of President Ebrahim Raisi.
The funeral is occurring amidst fragile negotiations between Iran and the US, focused on Iran's nuclear program and the release of frozen assets. Sticking points include enrichment limits and sanctions relief. Further talks are anticipated in Doha.