Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Funeral: Coffin Taken To Assasination Site As Iran Prepares For Six-Day Funeral

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 08:48 IST

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Funeral: The public farewell will begin at 6 am local time on July 4 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Funeral: Iran has begun preparations for the final farewell to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with state media reporting that his coffin was taken to the site where he was killed during an unannounced ceremony.

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), “In an unannounced event, the coffin carrying the body of the martyred leader Ayatollah Khamenei was brought to the site of his martyrdom."

The state funeral will begin on July 4 in Tehran and conclude with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad on July 9, with ceremonies also scheduled in Qom in between. Iranian authorities expect the event to draw one of the largest crowds in the country’s history. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has estimated that attendance could reach 20 million people.

UN Chief Speaks To Iran’s Foreign Minister

As preparations for the funeral continued, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to express his condolences.

In a post on X, the Iranian government said, “UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a phone call with FM Abbas Araghchi, offering condolences over the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and discussing regional and international developments, the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon ceasefire, and ongoing talks."

India To Send Delegation For Funeral

India will be represented at the funeral by Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that both leaders will travel to Iran on July 3 to attend the funeral ceremonies.

Mojtaba Khamenei To Skip Funeral

Iran’s current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral of his father because of security concerns, according to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the current leader’s representative in India.

Elahi said the decision was taken because of Israeli threats and surveillance risks, making public participation unsafe.

Tehran Prepares For Massive Public Gathering

According to the report, the public farewell will begin at 6 am local time on July 4 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds, which will remain open to mourners until 8 pm. Funeral prayers are scheduled for the morning of July 5, followed by the funeral procession.

Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Tehran Command and head of the funeral organising committee, said authorities have planned two major events in the capital. The first includes the public farewell and funeral prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds, while the second will be a separate funeral procession.

Officials decided against using a single procession route after assessing that no individual road in Tehran could safely handle the expected turnout. Instead, the procession will pass through a wider corridor across the capital, with vehicle movement restricted in the ceremony zone to allow smoother public access.

Hassanzadeh said organisers have also finalised the location where Khamenei’s body will lie in state. A separate seating area has been prepared for his family, while the main platform has been built at an elevated position to ensure better visibility for mourners.

The programme will include recitations by internationally recognised Qur’an reciters, religious poets, eulogists, and performances by cultural and religious groups.

Authorities Mobilise Transport And Public Services

Iranian authorities have mobilised multiple government agencies for the event, including municipal bodies, healthcare services, law enforcement, military units and public service departments.

Tehran’s metro and bus services will operate at full capacity to transport mourners. Traffic control zones have also been established around the city, along with reception centres for visitors arriving by public and private transport.

Five dedicated service centres will provide drinking water, food, medical care, sanitation facilities and prayer spaces throughout the funeral period.

Officials said planning has been based on maximum-capacity scenarios, with estimates suggesting attendance could range between 12 million and 15 million, while some projections indicate the gathering may reach 20 million people.

Conflict Led To Leadership Change

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 this year, triggering a wider conflict across West Asia. Following his death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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