On July 3, 2026, hundreds of mourners gathered at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex in preparation for the funeral of the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The farewell ceremony will commence on Saturday at 6 am local time (0230 GMT), as officials and foreign dignitaries pay their respects.
Gathering at the Funeral Venue
Crowds began forming outside the Grand Mosalla on Friday evening, with many expressing their sorrow and dedication to Khamenei. Somayye Hamedi, a 44-year-old teacher, shared her sentiments, stating, "We want to say a final goodbye to our leader, which is why waiting like this isn't painful or difficult for us."
Among the attendees was Fatemeh Nowdehi, a 25-year-old student who came to assist visitors. She expressed concern for the well-being of attendees, as temperatures are expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Mixed Reactions from Tehran Residents
Despite the anticipated turnout of 15-20 million mourners, many Tehran residents are opting to leave the city ahead of the ceremony. Azadeh, a 43-year-old translator, noted, "From what I can see, many people in Tehran are actually leaving the city and escaping the messy, crowded city and ceremony."
