Details of Ali Khamenei's Funeral Announced; Tehran Prepares for Farewell in July

After months of waiting and postponement due to wartime conditions, the organizing committee announced that the funeral of Ali Khamenei, the late leader of the Islamic Republic, will begin in early July 2026. This event, predicted to be one of the largest gatherings in contemporary Iranian history, will take place in several stages across three major cities [1].

Schedule in Tehran and Qom According to the official statement, the farewell ceremony for Ali Khamenei's body will be held on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, 2026, at the Imam Khomeini Musalla in Tehran [4]. Security officials expect millions to attend to pay their respects. Following the farewell, the official funeral procession will take place on the streets of Tehran on Monday, July 6 [2].

Subsequently, the body will be transferred to the city of Qom on Tuesday, July 7, for a ceremony attended by clerics and various segments of the public near the Shrine of Fatima Masumeh [3]. As Iran's religious center, this city holds a special place in the farewell proceedings.

Burial in Mashhad and the Imam Reza Shrine The final destination of this historic journey is the city of Mashhad and the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. The final funeral ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 9, in Mashhad, and his body will be buried inside the Holy Shrine [5]. The choice of this date coincides with the night of the martyrdom of Imam Sajjad in the lunar calendar [3].

Reason for the Four-Month Delay Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during joint United States and Israeli airstrikes on his residence in Tehran [1]. However, due to the continuation of extensive military conflicts known as the "2026 Iran War," it was not possible to hold a public funeral [8]. Government officials stated that with a peace agreement approaching in Geneva, conditions are now ready for this national ceremony [4].

Political Situation and Succession Following Ali Khamenei's death, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was introduced as the new leader in early March 2026 [5]. Although Mojtaba Khamenei himself was wounded in the February attacks and did not appear in public for some time, he is now managing the transition of power and organizing this massive event [1.4.1]. More than 20 million people are expected to participate in the ceremonies across various cities, posing a major challenge for logistics and security teams [1.4.9].