State Funeral for Khamenei Begins in Tehran, Burial Set for March 9

2026-07-04

Mourning begins in Tehran

The state funeral for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's former supreme leader who died in a U.S.-Israeli attack in late February, began on the 4th in the capital, Tehran. Citizens dressed in black gathered at the funeral venue from early morning to pay their respects.

Traffic restrictions were imposed across the city from the morning, and roads around the venue were crowded with mourners. Mineral water, bread and posters of Khamenei were handed out free of charge along the streets.

Ceremony at holy site, burial in hometown

Citizens carrying white flowers, Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei packed the large mosque where the memorial ceremony was held. Coffins of Khamenei and relatives who were killed in the same attack were placed at the altar, while mourners repeatedly sang in tribute.

A ceremony is scheduled for the 7th in the central city of Qom, a holy site for Shiite Islam, and Khamenei is set to be buried on the 9th in his hometown of Mashhad in the northeast, which is also a holy site.

Foreign dignitaries attend

Ahead of the state funeral, an event for foreign dignitaries was held on the 3rd. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others attended and offered condolences. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed them on the Iranian side.

Iran has warned the United States and Israel not to attack during the state funeral period. U.S.-Iran talks, which exchanged a memorandum on ending the fighting, are expected to resume after Khamenei's state funeral.

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