By Daily Times Reporter
TEHERAN- Iran has officially unveiled a seven-day funeral programme for its late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, with millions of mourners expected to participate in ceremonies across Iran and Iraq before his final burial in the holy city of Mashhad on July 9.
The state funeral begins on July 3 with a formal ceremony in Tehran, where international leaders, senior government officials, religious scholars, and dignitaries are expected to pay their respects.
Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly four decades after succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, was killed on February 28, 2026, alongside several members of his family during a joint United States-Israeli air strike that targeted his compound during the recent conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.
The burial, originally planned for March, was postponed as hostilities continued.
Public Farewell in Tehran
On July 4 and 5, members of the public will be given an opportunity to pay their final respects as Khamenei’s coffin lies in state at the Grand Mosalla of Tehran, one of the country’s largest prayer complexes and a traditional venue for major religious and state ceremonies.
Thousands of mourners are expected to visit throughout the two-day public viewing.
Funeral Processions Continue
The funeral processions will continue on July 6 and 7 through various parts of Tehran before travelling south to Qom, regarded as the spiritual centre of Shia Islamic scholarship.
Qom hosts some of the world’s most influential Shia seminaries and played a significant role in Khamenei’s religious education during his early years.
Ceremonies in Iraq
On July 8, the funeral procession will move into Iraq, beginning with an official reception at Najaf International Airport before continuing to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
In Najaf, mourners will gather at the revered Imam Ali Shrine, believed by Shia Muslims to be the burial place of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib.
The procession will then continue to Karbala, home to the sacred shrines of Imam Hussein Shrine and Al-Abbas Shrine, commemorating Imam Hussein and his half-brother Abbas, whose deaths during the Battle of Karbala remain central to Shia Islamic history.
Final Burial in Mashhad
The funeral ceremonies will conclude on July 9 when Khamenei’s body returns to Iran for burial at the revered Imam Reza Shrine.
Mashhad, Iran’s holiest city, holds deep personal significance for the late leader, who was born there in 1939 and began his religious studies in the city’s seminaries before continuing his education in Qom.
Being laid to rest near the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam in Shia Islam, is regarded as one of the highest honours within the Shia tradition and reflects Khamenei’s longstanding role as both Iran’s highest political authority and one of its most influential religious figures.
The funeral marks the first major state ceremony under Iran’s new leadership following the appointment of Khamenei’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has largely remained out of public view since the conflict began earlier this year.
