Millions Bid Farewell to Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran; Historic Procession Begins

Historic Farewell in the Heart of the Capital From the early hours of this morning, Saturday, July 4, 2026, the streets leading to the Grand Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran have witnessed an unprecedented public presence of people setting out to participate in the farewell ceremony for the body of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. His body has been placed in a glass enclosure in the center of the Mosalla, and mourners are expressing their respects to the late leader through traditional and religious rites [3]. Field reports indicate that many participants have traveled from distant and nearby cities, some even on foot, to be present at this historic moment [4].

Extensive Diplomatic Presence and International Messages Today's ceremony is not just a domestic event; it has become a stage for the presence of high-ranking officials from various countries. Diplomatic delegations from countries such as Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, India, China, and Iraq, have traveled to Tehran to pay their respects [2]. International media, including the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, have described this gathering as one of the largest in modern Iranian history, reminiscent of the funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic in 1989 [1][3]. Additionally, economic media such as Turkey's "Borsa Gündemi" are closely monitoring the effects of this event on regional stability and financial markets.

Funeral and Burial Schedule According to the commemoration committee, the farewell ceremony in Tehran will continue through today and tomorrow (July 4 and 5). The official funeral and burial schedule has been announced as follows: - July 6: Official funeral procession in the streets of Tehran and the offering of prayers. - July 7: Transfer of the body to the holy city of Qom and a procession among the scholars and people of that city. - July 8: Symbolic transfer of the body to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq for the farewell of the country's Shiites. - July 9: Final funeral ceremony in holy Mashhad and burial adjacent to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) [4][5].

Political Atmosphere and Message of Resistance On the sidelines of this ceremony, senior Iranian military and political officials emphasized the continuation of the late leader's path. General Ahmad Vahidi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized the message of resistance and steadfastness in his first public appearance in months [2]. Simultaneously, with the establishment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor and new leader, messages of unity and endurance are being heard throughout the capital. This ceremony is being held while strict security measures are in place across Tehran to protect mourners and foreign officials [3][5].