18 to 35 Million People Expected at Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral

Today, Saturday, June 27, 2026, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic (IRNA) and other government sources released the final details of one of the largest social events in contemporary history. According to estimates from the Traffic Police and the National Organizing Committee, between 18 and 35 million people are expected to participate in the collective farewell, funeral, and burial ceremonies of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei across various cities [1][2]. These ceremonies, originally scheduled for last March, were postponed by decision of the Supreme National Security Council due to ongoing military conflicts and airstrikes [4].

Timeline and Funeral Routes in Iran and Iraq According to Announcement No. 3 of the Organizing Committee, the "Farewell to Iran's Martyr" ceremonies will begin on Saturday, July 4. His body will lie in state at the Imam Khomeini Musalla in Tehran for public farewell for two days (July 4 and 5) [3]. On Monday, July 6, the main funeral ceremony will be held in Tehran, accompanied by a nationwide public holiday.

Continuing this spiritual journey, the late leader's body will be processed in the city of Qom on Tuesday, July 7. Subsequently, at the repeated request of Shiites and the Iraqi government, the body will be transferred to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, July 8, for farewell ceremonies in the holy shrines [5]. Finally, on Thursday, July 9, the final funeral ceremony will take place in holy Mashhad, and his body will be laid to rest next to the shrine of Imam Reza [1][4].

Unprecedented Security and Logistical Measures General Hassanzadeh, commander of the Mohammad Rasulullah Corps of Greater Tehran, noted the dimensions of this ceremony, stating that no single route has the capacity for millions of people; therefore, multiple routes have been designed for the funeral in Tehran [3]. It is predicted that between 15 and 20 million people will attend in Tehran alone, and about 8 to 10 million in Mashhad [2].

The Traffic Police also announced that plans have been made for the entry of more than 2 million private vehicles and thousands of buses from neighboring provinces into Tehran. Additionally, diplomatic delegations and public groups from Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India have announced their readiness to attend the ceremony [1][2]. To facilitate public attendance, the Iranian government has proposed a three-day official holiday in Tehran province (July 5 to 7), which is expected to receive final confirmation soon [3].

Historical and Political Context Ayatollah Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for over three decades, was martyred on February 28, 2026, during airstrikes on Tehran [4]. Since then, the country has been in a state of war, and the funeral ceremonies were postponed several times due to security considerations and to protect the lives of citizens. Now, with a relative ceasefire and recent agreements, the organizing committee, under the slogan "Must Rise" and the symbol of a "Clenched Fist," is ready to hold this civilizational rite, which authorities say will symbolize the nation's renewed allegiance to the ideals of the revolution [5].