The funeral procession for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei commenced on July 6, 2026, in Tehran. After lying in state for two days at the Grand Mosalla religious complex, Khamenei's body began its journey through the capital, accompanied by large crowds of mourners, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Khamenei was killed on February 28 during air strikes on his office in Tehran, coinciding with the first day of the United States-Israel war on Iran. Thousands gathered at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 to pay respects to Khamenei and four family members who died alongside him.

Authorities are preparing for crowds that could rival those at the 1989 funeral of Khamenei's predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, which drew an estimated 10 million people, according to the state news agency IRNA. That funeral was marked by crowd surges that killed more than 10 people and injured over 10,000.

Following Monday's procession in Tehran, similar ceremonies are scheduled in the clerical city of Qom on Tuesday, and in Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday. The weeklong events will culminate with Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.

Sources