More than 100 countries will be represented at the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on February 28, during the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The funeral ceremonies will commence on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Tehran, according to Iranian state-linked news broadcaster IRIB.
Details of Khamenei's Funeral Ceremonies
The funeral will span seven days, featuring public ceremonies and religious rites across Iran and Iraq. The main event on Friday will see the coffin of Khamenei displayed for public viewing at the Grand Mosalla, one of Iran's largest prayer complexes. Following this, the funeral processions will move southward towards Qom on Monday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday, an official reception will take place at Najaf International Airport in Iraq, followed by public processions in the cities of Najaf and Karbala. The final burial ceremony will be held at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on Friday, marking the completion of the elaborate funeral proceedings.
World Leaders Attending the Funeral
Several heads of state and senior government officials have confirmed their attendance:
- Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will represent Pakistan. The country has been instrumental in mediating between the US and Iran.
- Tajikistan: President Emomali Rahmon will attend the funeral.
- Armenia: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent Armenia.
- Georgia: President Mikheil Kavelashvili will attend.
Other senior leaders include: Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz from Turkiye, India's Deputy Foreign Minister Pabitra Margherita, and He Wei, a senior Chinese politician.
Significance of Khamenei's Funeral
The scale of Khamenei's funeral is expected to surpass the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which attracted around 10 million mourners. Notably, Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend due to security concerns following threats against him.
As Iran prepares for this significant event, military leaders have issued warnings against potential attacks from the US and Israel, emphasizing the need for caution. The Iranian military commander Ali Abdollahi stated, “We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the U.S. and the Zionist regime [Israel], to avoid any miscalculation.”
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Al Jazeera. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
