Khamenei funeral procession begins July 4
People walk by a large billboard displaying portraits of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (L) and slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in central Tehran on June 8, 2026.
Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty Images
Iran is holding a six-day funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader who guided the Islamic Republic for forty years and was killed on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war in February.
The ceremony is set to commence on July 4 and conclude on July 9, covering various cities in Iran and Iraq before the final burial in Mashhad, Iran’s most sacred city.
The delayed funeral is expected to draw millions of mourners and may unveil underlying tensions within the nation.
Unprecedented security measures will be implemented by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with logistical support from the Basij paramilitary force.
Khamenei’s resting place in Mashhad holds great religious significance for Shia Islam, as it is where his father, the previous ayatollah, is also buried.
Khamenei funeral route and schedule
The funeral procession will pass through key Shia Islamic sites in Iran and Iraq, blending national and religious elements to project legitimacy and deterrence.
July 4-5: Tehran
Farewell ceremonies will begin at Tehran’s Mosalla prayer complex, followed by a procession from Imam Hossein Square to Azadi Square.
July 6: Tehran
The main funeral procession will cover a distance of 10 kilometers in Tehran, with an estimated attendance of 20 million people.
Attendees wave Iranian flags at the funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ navy, in Tehran on April 1, 2026.
AFP | Getty Images
July 7: Qom
The procession moves to Qom, Iran’s spiritual Shia learning center, visiting important religious sites.
July 8: Najaf and Karbala, Iraq
The body will be taken to Iraq for ceremonies at the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein.
July 9: Mashhad
Khamenei’s final burial will take place in Mashhad, where millions are expected to gather.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during a rally in Mashhad, Iran on March 21, 2023.
Office Of The Iranian Supreme Leader | WANA | via Reuters
Expected Attendees at the Funeral
Over 30 countries have expressed interest in attending the funeral, with confirmed participation from Pakistan and China.
No Gulf Arab government has announced attendance yet, while senior Iraqi officials are set to be present.
The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is expected to make a public appearance during the funeral.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran on July 18, 2016.
Amir Kholousi | Via Reuters
Security Measures
The funeral’s scale has necessitated thorough planning, with highways converted into parking zones and various facilities used for accommodation.
Iran aims to prevent security breaches during the event, learning from past incidents involving foreign dignitaries.
