Iran has officially commenced a multi-day funeral procession for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The state ceremonies will culminate in fulfilling his long-expressed final wish: to be laid to rest alongside the holy shrine of Imam Reza, one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures, located in his hometown of Mashhad.
The developments follow the death of the Supreme Leader on February 28 during coordinated U.S.-Israeli military strikes.
The Six-Day Funeral Procession Schedule
Iranian state authorities have outlined an extensive, multi-city itinerary allowing the public and regional allies to pay their final respects:
- July 3 (Tehran): The official ceremonies began on Friday at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran, where the late leader’s body was placed for public viewing, drawing massive mourning crowds.
- July 6 (Tehran & Qom): A massive street procession is scheduled to move through the capital city of Tehran before the convoy travels to the holy city of Qom.
- Regional Processions (Iraq): The funeral procession will cross international borders into neighboring Iraq, holding major religious ceremonies in the historic holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
- July 9 (Mashhad): The final rites and official burial will take place next to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, concluding the state-mandated mourning period.
The high-profile state funeral has drawn intense international focus, prompting tightening security protocols across the region, alongside public warnings and political commentary from Washington.