Iran is preparing for one of the largest public gatherings in its modern history as millions of mourners are expected to attend the state funeral of the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The funeral ceremony, scheduled in Tehran, has also attracted international attention, with official delegations from around 30 countries expected to participate.
Authorities across the Iranian capital have intensified preparations ahead of the ceremony. Workers have been decorating the Grand Mosalla religious complex with flowers, banners, and tributes honoring Khamenei, while security has been significantly strengthened around major public areas.
“We are preparing every corner for the farewell of our martyred leader,” said Hossein Moghadassi, one of the workers helping beautify the venue despite soaring summer temperatures. He added that visitors are expected to arrive from every province across Iran, creating one of the country’s largest gatherings ever witnessed.
Pakistan has confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the funeral in Tehran, highlighting the significance of the event amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. China, Afghanistan, and several neighboring countries from the Caucasus region have also announced that official representatives will participate.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has urged citizens to turn out in massive numbers, describing the funeral as a defining national moment. Speaking before the ceremony, he said the overwhelming public participation would send a powerful message to the international community following Khamenei’s death during the opening phase of the recent conflict involving the United States and Israel.
The funeral had initially been postponed during the height of regional hostilities but will now take place while Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after reaching a preliminary agreement aimed at reducing tensions.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for decades and was regarded as one of the most influential religious and political figures in the Shia Muslim world, died at the age of 86 following reported strikes on his compound in central Tehran.
His body will remain in state for three days inside the Grand Mosalla, where thousands are already expected to pay their final respects. The bodies of several family members who also lost their lives during the conflict will be honored alongside him.
Officials estimate that between 15 and 20 million people could participate in various stages of the funeral, making it potentially the largest state funeral ever held in Iran. Ceremonies will extend beyond Tehran to the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, where additional commemorations and burial events are planned.
To accommodate the expected crowds, Iranian authorities have declared public holidays in several cities. Government offices and many private businesses in Tehran will remain closed from Saturday through Monday. Strict traffic controls have also been introduced, while sections of Tehran’s airspace will be temporarily closed during the ceremonies.
Following the official farewell in Tehran, Khamenei’s body is expected to be transported to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before returning to Iran for burial on July 9 at the revered Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the city where he was born.
Questions remain over whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will appear publicly during the funeral, as he has remained largely out of public view since assuming leadership.
With delegations arriving from across the Middle East and Asia, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China, the funeral is expected to become not only a national event but also one of the most closely watched diplomatic gatherings in the region this year.
As Iran prepares to bid farewell to one of its longest-serving leaders, the ceremony is expected to reflect both the country’s deep religious traditions and the complex geopolitical realities shaping the Middle East today.
