Months after U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran readies massive funeral for Khamenei

Iran Schedules Multi-Day Funeral for Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

July 3, 2026, 3:36 AM EDT

Iran plans a multi-day funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 alongside family members during the initial phase of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran. The ceremony will include viewings, prayers, and a procession in the capital, followed by burial in Mashhad.

This marks only the second funeral for a supreme leader since the 1979 establishment of the Islamic Republic. The 1989 funeral for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini drew millions to Tehran. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani has stated that up to 20 million people could attend events in the capital, according to the Young Journalists Club, an outlet affiliated with Iranian state television.

A viewing of the coffin and prayers are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Mosalla mosque complex in central Tehran. A procession through city streets is set for Monday. Additional events are planned in Qom and in Iraq at sites of significance to Shiite Muslims. Khamenei will be buried on Thursday in Mashhad.

The timing follows a memorandum of understanding signed last month between the United States and Iran that formally concluded hostilities after more than a month of strikes. Several senior political and military officials died in those operations, which created vacancies in leadership structures.

Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, 56, was appointed supreme leader in March after sustaining wounds in the same attack. He has not appeared publicly or issued statements since the appointment. Iranian authorities have not confirmed his attendance at the funeral events. State media outlets have described the former leader as a martyr, and images of Khamenei and Khomeini remain visible on public murals in Tehran.

Khamenei held the position of supreme leader for nearly four decades and oversaw the expansion of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into a major military, political, and economic institution. Analysts have noted that subsequent leadership changes after the strikes have elevated certain IRGC figures in decision-making roles.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of parliament and a participant in U.S. talks, has issued statements through the semiofficial Tasnim news agency calling for public expressions of support for the late leader. Ghalibaf has also posted comments on social media directed at U.S. officials.

Funeral organizers face logistical and security considerations. The 1989 Khomeini procession experienced crowd surges that resulted in at least eight deaths and multiple injuries. Past ceremonies for Iranian officials have also drawn attacks, including an Islamic State operation in Kerman in 2024 that killed at least 84 people during events marking the anniversary of Gen. Qassem Soleimani’s death.

Widespread protests occurred across Iran in January, representing a significant domestic challenge to authorities. Security forces ended the demonstrations. Reports on the number of casualties have varied and lack comprehensive independent verification in available public records. Economic pressures that contributed to those protests have continued amid the period of conflict and subsequent negotiations.

Ali Alfoneh of the Arab Gulf States Institute has stated that the IRGC now plays a central role in strategic decisions and resource allocation. Sina Azodi of George Washington University has described the funeral as an occasion for current officials to demonstrate organizational capacity and public participation. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group has noted that the period following the leadership transition and conflict presents ongoing questions about institutional stability.

The funeral events will take place under heightened security measures. Iranian officials have not released updated casualty figures from the February strikes or the January protests beyond statements carried by state-affiliated outlets.