The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has arrived in the holy city of Qom on July 6, 2026, ahead of a planned funeral procession, as reported by state television. A helicopter transported Khamenei's body, marking the beginning of ceremonies that have drawn millions of mourners.
Massive Turnout for Khamenei's Funeral
In Tehran, mourners filled the streets for the third consecutive day, participating in a funeral procession that began with a truck carrying Khamenei and four family members killed in a recent US-Israeli strike. State TV reported that crowds stretched along major boulevards, with millions attending the event, reminiscent of the funeral for Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.
As mourners clad in black honored Khamenei, they threw petals onto the coffins. Among the deceased was Khamenei’s granddaughter, who was only 14 months old when she died. One mourner, identified as Hamid, told Al Jazeera, “The US and Israel aimed to divide Iran. But our leader prevented that division.” Another, Marzieh, stated, “We came here to tell our martyred leader that his blood is not wasted.”
Absence of Khamenei's Successor
Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in public since his appointment following his father’s death. Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University, explained that the ongoing war has made it unsafe for Mojtaba to appear publicly, stating, “There is a very fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel.”
