Iran begins multi-day farewell to Ali Khamenei: burial scheduled for July 10

A multi-day farewell ceremony for the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years, has begun in Iran. After a closed ceremony with the participation of the Iranian leadership and foreign delegations, the coffin with Khamenei's body and the coffins of four of his family members were laid to rest at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran.

This was reported by the Associated Press.

How will Khamenei's funeral be held

The coffins will remain in the Grand Mosalla Mosque until July 6. After that, they will be transported to other cities in Iran and Iraq. Khamenei's funeral is scheduled for July 10 in the city of Mashhad, where he was born.

The organizers of the ceremony announced the following schedule:

• until July 6 - farewell at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran;
• after July 6 - transportation of the coffins to other cities in Iran and Iraq;
• July 10 - burial in Mashhad.

Hundreds of thousands of people have already joined the ceremony

Hundreds of thousands of people have already come to say goodbye to Khamenei. According to organizers, the total number of participants could reach several million - almost a quarter of the country's population.

Iranian security forces have increased security in the area where the ceremony will be held and blocked roads near the mosque. Portraits of Khamenei have been placed on the streets of Tehran, and religious chants are heard during the events.

For the farewell, a stage was set up on the territory of the mosque, decorated according to the model of the one from which Khamenei gave speeches for many years. A portrait of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, was placed above the stage, and Khamenei's chair with a microphone was placed next to his coffin.

During the ceremony, participants chanted slogans against Israel and the United States, and also called for revenge for the death of the supreme leader.

What is known about the death of Ali Khamenei

Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran. Iranian state television confirmed his death on March 1 after several hours of conflicting reports.

According to Iranian state media, several members of his family also were killed along with Khamenei. The Iranian government has declared 40 days of mourning.

After Khamenei's death, the Iranian authorities elected his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new supreme leader. The country is currently undergoing a multi-day farewell ceremony, which will end with a burial in Mashhad.

The first photos of the coffin with the body of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have also been published on social media. The photo appeared on Khamenei's official X social media account and was also shared by international media.

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