Iran Mourns As Thousands Gather In Tehran Ahead Of Ayatollah Khamenei's State Funeral
News Updated: 03 July 2026 11:59 EAT
Photo courtesy: Thousands came out in the streets of Iran
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Friday to pay their final respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as his coffin was placed on public display at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex ahead of the official state funeral scheduled for Saturday, July 4. The ceremony marked the beginning of a six-day mourning programme that Iranian authorities say will culminate with his burial in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
The coffin, draped in Iran's national flag, was carried into the prayer complex during a solemn ceremony attended by senior government officials, military commanders, prominent clerics and members of the public. Thousands of people queued to offer prayers and bid farewell to the leader who headed the Islamic Republic for more than three decades.
Iranian authorities have organised an extensive state funeral that will begin with mass public ceremonies in Tehran before continuing to the holy city of Qom. The procession will then travel to the Iraqi Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala before returning to Iran for Khamenei's burial in Mashhad on July 9.
Officials expect millions of people to participate in the funeral processions, making them among the largest public gatherings in Iran's recent history. Security has been significantly heightened across Tehran, with road closures, increased police deployment and special transport arrangements introduced to accommodate the anticipated crowds.
The funeral had originally been expected shortly after Khamenei's death but was postponed following the conflict that erupted after he was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026. Iranian officials said security concerns and the ongoing regional situation delayed preparations for the state funeral.
State media have provided continuous live coverage of mourners filing past the coffin, portraying the ceremonies as both a religious observance and a national event. Government leaders have described the funeral as an opportunity for Iranians to demonstrate unity and pay tribute to Khamenei's leadership.
Foreign delegations from several countries are expected to attend the funeral ceremonies in Tehran. India has confirmed it will send an official delegation, while Iranian authorities say representatives from numerous governments and regional organisations will also be present.
Authorities have placed the country's security forces on high alert throughout the funeral period. Additional measures have been implemented to protect visiting dignitaries and manage the movement of large crowds expected to gather in Tehran and along the planned procession routes.
Religious commemorations are also planned in Iraq's Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, reflecting Khamenei's influence among many Shiite communities beyond Iran. Clerics and religious institutions in several countries have announced parallel memorial services in his honour.
The public funeral in Tehran on Saturday is expected to be the largest event of the mourning programme before the ceremonies conclude with Khamenei's burial in Mashhad, where Iranian officials expect hundreds of thousands more mourners to gather for the final rites.
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