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Iran has begun formal state funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, unveiling his casket to mourners at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran as the country marks the end of an era that defined its political identity for nearly four decades.
Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. Iranian authorities confirmed his death the following day, setting off a wave of mourning and geopolitical uncertainty that continues to reverberate across global markets and diplomatic channels.
A funeral that spans a nation
The state funeral is scheduled to run from July 3 to July 9, 2026, with public processions planned across major Iranian cities including Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. Iranian authorities expect millions of mourners to participate across those six days, with the final burial to take place at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.
He ruled Iran for approximately 36 to 37 years after succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. His tenure covered the fall of the Soviet Union, multiple U.S. administrations, and every major confrontation between Iran and the West over its nuclear program.
Security at the ceremonies is described as heightened, a reflection of the ongoing conflict that claimed his life. Multiple members of Khamenei’s family were also killed in the February strikes, adding a personal dimension to what is already one of the most consequential political funerals in the region’s recent history.
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