The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been moved to Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, where it will lie in state ahead of a funeral expected to attract millions of mourners and high-ranking foreign dignitaries.
According to Iranian state media, Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during the recent US-Israeli strikes that escalated tensions in the Middle East, will remain at the Grand Mosalla before the official state funeral.
Television footage from the venue showed mourners carrying his coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag, into the expansive religious complex as thousands of black-clad mourners gathered to pay their final respects.
Iranian authorities estimate that between 15 million and 20 million people could attend the funeral, making it one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s history.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on Iranians to participate in the funeral, describing it as a historic moment for the nation and urging citizens to honour Khamenei’s legacy through a massive turnout.
Several world leaders and foreign delegations are expected to attend the funeral, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as representatives from China, Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries.
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The state funeral comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States following a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the recent hostilities.
To manage the anticipated influx of mourners, Iranian authorities have declared public holidays in Tehran and several major cities, closed government offices, imposed extensive traffic restrictions and partially restricted access to the capital’s airspace.
Following the funeral ceremony in Tehran, Khamenei’s body is expected to be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before a final burial scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
Attention is also focused on whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will make his first public appearance during the funeral proceedings, although officials have yet to confirm his participation.
Editorial note: Before publication, you should independently verify the core claims in this story, particularly the reported death of Ali Khamenei, the succession by Mojtaba Khamenei, and the funeral arrangements, as these are extraordinary, high-impact developments that require confirmation from multiple authoritative sources.
