Iran Prepares Massive Funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei with Revolutionary Guards in Charge
Iran is finalizing preparations for the funeral of its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, expected to take place next week in Tehran. The Revolutionary Guards have been assigned to manage the three-day funeral procession, which will begin at Tehran’s central prayer complex and continue through key Shia religious sites in Iraq before concluding with burial in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Authorities in Tehran are bracing for an estimated 15 to 20 million mourners, deploying heavy police security, erecting large banners, and reinforcing metal structures to accommodate the crowds. Temporary accommodations have been arranged by converting schools, universities, and parks, alongside special tents capable of hosting over 25,000 people each. Water stations are also set up along the procession routes to combat the summer heat.
A closed ceremony for foreign dignitaries and heads of state will be held on Friday in Tehran. Subsequently, Khamenei’s coffin will be transported to the city of Qom and then to Iraq, where the Iraqi government, in coordination with the Iranian embassy and local Shia militias, has prepared logistics for visits to the holy sites of Najaf and Karbala. Due to time constraints, the coffin will bypass a planned stop in Baghdad’s Kazimiyah district and be flown directly to Najaf airport.
The Revolutionary Guards are overseeing security operations amid concerns about potential crowd crush incidents, recalling past tragedies during the funerals of Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 and Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Politically, the funeral will highlight the stability of Iran’s new leadership, as Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, named his official successor, is expected to appear publicly for the first time since being wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father. Military helicopters will escort the burial convoy to monitor the crowds and prevent breaches of security around the coffin.
Summary: Iran is preparing a massive, heavily secured funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, managed by the Revolutionary Guards, with millions expected to attend across Iran and Iraq before his burial in Mashhad on July 9. His son Mojtaba may appear publicly for the first time, signaling leadership continuity.
