Funeral ceremonies begin for late Iranian leader Ali Khamenei

Public funeral proceedings for Iran's long-serving Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, commenced on July 4, 2026, at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran. Khamenei was killed at age 86 during a military strike on February 28, 2026, attributed by Iranian sources to a joint U.S. and Israeli operation. Alongside him, the remains of several family members—including a daughter, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a grandchild—are also being honored. The government expects between 15 and 20 million people to participate in the mourning events. Funeral ceremonies are scheduled to span several days, with varying reports suggesting durations between three and six days, involving processions across Iranian cities and sites in Iraq. The official burial is expected to take place in his birthplace, Mashhad, on the following Thursday. During the initial public viewing, attendees displayed symbols of martyrdom and shouted slogans against the United States and Israel. High-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, attended the ceremony to pay their respects.