Iran Prepares Extensive State Funeral Ceremonies for Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Iran is set to hold extensive state funeral ceremonies for the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated several months ago. The six-day funeral events will begin on July 3 and run through July 9, featuring a long coffin procession across multiple cities in Iran and Iraq. The ceremonies are expected to be among the largest and most elaborate in Iran in recent years.

The funeral schedule, released by the Iranian news agency Fars, includes official tributes to foreign leaders in Tehran on July 3, large public farewell ceremonies at the Musalla Imam Khomeini prayer complex in Tehran on July 4-5, followed by processions and ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad in Iran, as well as Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, two of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims. Khamenei will be buried in Mashhad at the shrine of Imam Ali al-Ridha, a major Shia pilgrimage site.

Iman Attarzadeh, spokesperson for the funeral ceremonies, stated that leaders and dignitaries from around 40 countries will attend to honor Khamenei’s legacy. He also noted that the events will see massive public participation alongside figures from culture, science, religion, academia, and government worldwide. Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Mohammad Kazem al-Sadeq confirmed that Iraq’s president and parliamentary speaker will attend the ceremonies.

A senior Iranian official emphasized that revenge for Khamenei’s assassination and the deaths of oppressed Iranian martyrs remains unresolved, warning that those responsible will be punished at the appropriate time without delay.