Iran has officially scheduled funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from June 26 through July 5. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani confirmed the timeline, which coincides with the second ten days of Muharram. These rites follow months of delayed planning after Khamenei was assassinated during US-Israeli military strikes on February 28, 2026.
The three-day observance will feature massive processions across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. Officials estimate attendance could reach 20 million people, with the Tehran ceremony alone expected to last at least 24 hours. This event concludes a national mourning period declared immediately after state media confirmed the leader's death on March 1.
Khamenei’s passing has triggered a critical succession process under Iran’s constitution. The 88-member Assembly of Experts must now select a new Supreme Leader to replace Khamenei, who held the post for 35 years. While Mojtaba Khamenei has been mentioned as a potential successor, the political transition occurs as the nation operates under heavy international sanctions and profound strategic uncertainty.