Iran will commence funeral proceedings for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 4 in Tehran. The state burial is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. These ceremonies occur more than four months after Khamenei was killed during US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026.
The significant delay between death and interment stems from two primary factors. Ongoing military hostilities created severe security and logistical challenges for a mass gathering. Additionally, authorities aligned the schedule with the Islamic month of Muharram to coincide with traditional mourning periods observed in Shia Islam.
Officials anticipate up to 20 million attendees across multiple cities as Iran observes a period of national mourning. Processions will move through Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with each lasting at least 24 hours per the late leader's will. Khamenei served as Supreme Leader for 37 years, having assumed power in 1989.