Iran Funeral – Tehran Prepares for State Farewell to Ali Khamenei
Iran Funeral – The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Friday, setting the stage for a major state funeral expected to bring together large crowds and visiting delegations from several countries. Iranian state media said the ceremony will formally begin on Saturday, following days of mourning across the country.
Coffin Brought to Major Tehran Ceremony Site
Images released from the capital showed Khamenei’s coffin, covered with Iran’s national flag, being carried into the Grand Mosalla, a central venue for major religious and state occasions. Mourners dressed in black gathered for a pre-funeral ceremony as the coffin was placed near floral displays and decorative white butterfly arrangements.
Khamenei, who was 86, was killed during US-Israeli strikes on his compound in central Tehran, according to Iranian authorities. The attacks were part of the conflict that led to the wider Middle East war. His death has prompted an extended period of official mourning and heightened security in the Iranian capital.
Three Days of Public Viewing Planned
Iranian officials said Khamenei’s body will remain at the Grand Mosalla for three days, allowing mourners to pay their respects. Banners displaying his photographs and statements have been placed around the vast complex, while the bodies of relatives killed in the same attacks are also expected to be presented during the ceremonies.
Workers spent Thursday preparing the venue, arranging flowers, tending to landscaped areas and completing final work ahead of the public gathering. Security personnel increased checks around the site, stopping vehicles and monitoring activity in nearby streets.
Hossein Moghadassi, a worker helping prepare the grounds, said people were expected to travel to Tehran from different parts of the country. He said the farewell ceremony was being organised on a large scale as temperatures rose in the capital.
Officials Call for Broad Public Participation
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, urged citizens to attend the funeral. In a statement issued on Thursday, he described the event as an important moment for the country and called on the public to show unity through their presence.
Ghalibaf also referred to calls for retaliation following Khamenei’s death. His comments came as Iran and the United States continued to observe a fragile ceasefire after reaching a preliminary agreement aimed at halting the conflict.
The funeral had initially been postponed during the most intense phase of the war. Its rescheduling follows a period of reduced hostilities, although the wider regional situation remains sensitive.
Foreign Delegations Expected in Tehran
Officials expect representatives from around 30 countries to attend the ceremony. Pakistan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would travel to Tehran, reflecting Islamabad’s role as a mediator in discussions between Iran and the United States.
China, Afghanistan and several countries in the Caucasus region have also announced plans to send representatives. Visitors from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to arrive in large numbers for the funeral events.
Authorities estimate that between 15 million and 20 million mourners could take part in the ceremonies, a figure that would make the event the largest state funeral in Iran’s history. Public holidays have been declared in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, where later stages of the mourning and burial programme will be held.
Travel Restrictions Announced for Funeral Days
Government offices and private businesses in Tehran will close from Saturday through Monday. Traffic controls will limit access to much of central Tehran, while the city’s airspace will be partly restricted from Friday and fully closed on Monday.
After the Tehran ceremonies, Khamenei’s body is scheduled to be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. He is due to be buried on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, his birthplace in northeastern Iran.
It remains unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei, his son and successor as supreme leader, will attend the main public ceremony. He has not appeared publicly since assuming the role.