Tehran: Iran has begun a week-long state funeral for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with his body lying in state at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran. Thousands of mourners, senior clerics, military commanders and foreign dignitaries have gathered to pay their final respects during one of the country’s largest public mourning events in recent history.
Khamenei’s coffin, draped in the Iranian flag, was unveiled before crowds of grieving supporters, many chanting religious slogans, weeping and throwing flowers toward the bier. Authorities expect millions of people to participate in funeral processions scheduled over the coming days across Iran and Iraq.
The funeral ceremonies will continue through several significant Shia holy cities, including Qom in Iran and Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before concluding with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad, home to the revered Imam Reza Shrine, on July 9. The burial was postponed for several months because of the conflict that followed the strikes in which Khamenei was killed.
The state funeral comes at a critical moment for Iran, as the country navigates a leadership transition following Khamenei’s death. The government has mobilised extensive security arrangements and logistical support, including discounted transport and accommodation for mourners, to ensure large public participation throughout the week-long ceremonies.
Representatives from several countries, including Pakistan, India, China, Russia, and Iraq, are expected to attend the ceremonies, reflecting Iran’s diplomatic ties with regional partners. The event is also being used by Iranian authorities to project national unity amid continuing regional tensions and domestic economic challenges.
Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran’s Supreme Leader, is reportedly not expected to appear publicly during the funeral because of heightened security concerns following threats against senior Iranian leaders.
The week-long ceremonies are expected to culminate in one of the largest public gatherings in Iran in recent years, marking the end of Ali Khamenei’s decades-long leadership while symbolising the country’s transition to a new phase under its incoming leadership.
