Supreme leader's body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral
Millions are expected to attend the funeral events for Ali Khamenei, who was killed in military strikes. The sequence concludes with a burial on 9 July 2026.
The remains of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, arrived at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla on Friday, 3 July 2026, marking the beginning of a complex multi-day funerary sequence. The arrival of the casket at the capital’s central religious venue signaled the start of formal observances following the death of the 86-year-old leader, who was killed in military strikes. His passing, and the subsequent efforts to finalize his burial, coincide with a fragile ceasefire agreement currently holding between Iran and the United States.
The transition of the late leader's remains to the Grand Mosalla on Friday was accompanied by large crowds of mourners, many dressed in black, carrying portraits of the deceased and waving the Iranian national tricolour. The casket itself is draped in the national flag and a sacred red flag from the shrine of Imam Hussein, which the government describes as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. Workers at the venue have been preparing the site for several days, installing banners featuring images and quotes of the late leader, while security cordons have been established to manage the massive influx of people expected to visit the site.
Media additions
Official estimates suggest that between 15 and 20 million people may participate in the funeral events over the coming days, a turnout that authorities anticipate will constitute the largest state funeral in the history of the Islamic republic. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament and Tehran’s chief negotiator, has urged the public to attend the ceremonies in massive numbers, describing the event as a critical moment in the nation's history. He has publicly called on the population to ensure their presence reflects a unified demand for vengeance.
A notable appearance occurred during preliminary services on Thursday, 2 July 2026, when Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Revolutionary Guards, visited the coffin. This marked his first public appearance since the commencement of hostilities in February. According to reports, Vahidi is considered a central figure in the current power structure and is believed to maintain direct communication with the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The elder Khamenei was killed in strikes on his compound in the centre of Tehran on 28 February 2026.
Despite the high-profile nature of the proceedings, the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to attend the services in Tehran. This absence was confirmed by Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the representative of the new leader in India, who stated that the decision is driven by security concerns and specific threats.
The diplomatic landscape surrounding the funeral is marked by the attendance of foreign dignitaries. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is confirmed to attend the official ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 4 July 2026. Delegations from China, Afghanistan, and various nations in the Caucasus are also expected to participate. Additionally, footage has emerged of religious leaders from India paying their respects to the late leader at the Grand Mosalla.
To facilitate the logistics of the multi-day event, the government has mandated the closure of both public and private offices in Tehran from Saturday through Monday. Broad traffic restrictions will render much of the city centre inaccessible to private vehicles. authorities have implemented partial airspace restrictions starting Friday, with a full closure planned for Monday. Following the events in Tehran, the body is scheduled to travel to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq before the final burial, which is set to take place on 9 July 2026 at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, the birthplace of the late leader.
The funerary process unfolds as international observers track the stability of the preliminary diplomatic deal between Iran and the United States. While negotiators continue to discuss the terms of a permanent end to hostilities, tension persists regarding the security of the new leadership, with regional warnings issued regarding threats against the current supreme leader.
