Iran held a state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attracting hundreds of thousands of mourners, senior officials, and international delegations as the country concluded its official period of mourning.
Iran staged a state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drawing hundreds of thousands of mourners and official delegations from nearly 100 countries to Tehran for one of the country’s largest public gatherings in recent years.
According to Iranian media, Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani led the funeral prayers. The ceremony was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, senior government officials, and foreign representatives who paid tribute to the late leader.
Crowds filled the streets of Tehran carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei while offering condolences during the funeral procession. Authorities deployed extensive security measures to manage the large turnout and maintain order throughout the event.
Iranian officials said the funeral procession will continue beyond the country’s borders before the final burial. The body is scheduled to travel to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala for additional religious ceremonies before returning to Iran for burial in Mashhad, one of the nation’s holiest cities.
Iranian authorities reported that Ayatollah Khamenei was killed during a joint U.S.-Israeli military strike on February 28. Following his death, Iran’s leadership selected a new Supreme Leader on March 8 to ensure political continuity, while the funeral was delayed to complete official arrangements and allow for nationwide mourning.
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