Image: from Al Jazeera English X @AJEnglish
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
Iran has begun six days of official funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike at the outset of the United States and Israeli military campaign against Iran. The ceremonies are expected to draw millions of mourners and represent one of the largest state commemorations in the country’s modern history.
Hundreds of thousands of people have poured into Tehran, with millions expected to attend a week of funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
— in pictures https://t.co/y3oVHStpGf pic.twitter.com/XfBn3M1HuO
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 4, 2026
The funeral officially opened at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque, where Khamenei’s coffin was placed alongside the coffins of several family members who were killed in the February 28 attack. Thousands of people gathered before dawn, many dressed in black and carrying Iranian flags, portraits of the late leader, and religious banners while chanting slogans in support of the Islamic Republic.
The funeral had originally been planned shortly after Khamenei’s death but was postponed because of the ongoing conflict that followed the strikes. Iranian authorities said the delay was necessary due to wartime conditions and security concerns.
Nationwide ceremonies
The funeral will continue over six days with processions and religious ceremonies in multiple cities across Iran before concluding with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad, his birthplace and one of Shiite Islam’s holiest cities. Additional commemorative events are also planned in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, reflecting the cross-border religious significance of the ceremonies.
Iranian authorities expect participation to reach into the tens of millions over the course of the week, with extensive security measures, transportation arrangements, and public services established to accommodate mourners.
Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev is attending the funeral ceremony for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei:https://t.co/vlWjuwKGGr
Video: Ruptly/TASS/Iranian State TV pic.twitter.com/X8szFCxQvw
— TASS (@tassagency_en) July 3, 2026
Political message of continuity
Senior Iranian political leaders, military commanders and foreign delegations have attended the opening ceremonies, presenting the funeral as both a religious observance and a demonstration of national unity following months of conflict.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior members of the armed forces, and officials from allied nations were among those paying their respects. Delegations from several regional partners, including Pakistan, Iraq, and Russia, also attended the ceremonies.
Iranian officials have portrayed the funeral as evidence that the country’s political institutions remain stable despite the assassination of the leader who governed the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades. Public messaging throughout the ceremonies has emphasized resilience, resistance, and continuity.
International attention
The funeral comes at a sensitive moment for the Middle East, with regional tensions remaining high despite recent diplomatic efforts and a fragile pause in hostilities. Western governments have closely monitored the ceremonies while also watching for signs regarding Iran’s future leadership and internal political direction.
The absence from public view of Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly suffered injuries during the February attack, has continued to fuel speculation about Iran’s political future, although Iranian officials insist that the country’s leadership remains firmly in control.
As the week-long funeral continues, Tehran hopes the massive turnout will reinforce both domestic solidarity and its message of defiance amid one of the most significant transitions in the history of the Islamic Republic.