Iran begins six-day funeral for Ali Khamenei, killed in February US-Israeli strikes, with millions expected to mourn

Public ceremonies begin in Tehran

The body of Ali Khamenei, Iran's longest-serving supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, was placed in Tehran's Grand Mosque of Imam Khomeini on Friday, where officials and foreign delegations paid their respects. Public viewing began Saturday morning, with authorities estimating that between 12 and 20 million people will participate in the six-day funeral. Alongside Khamenei's coffin lie the remains of family members killed in the same 28 February attack: a daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and a three-year-old granddaughter.

This is one of the most important moments in the country's history.

A six-day journey across Iran and Iraq

The funeral will move through several cities before burial on 9 July. After the public viewing in Tehran from Saturday to Monday morning, a main procession will cross the capital on Monday, when the city's airspace will be fully closed. On Tuesday, ceremonies move to Qom, the centre of Iran's Shia hierarchy, about 140 km south of Tehran. Wednesday will see processions in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, two of the most sacred sites for Shia Muslims. Khamenei will be buried on Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace in north-eastern Iran.

Foreign delegations and absent leaders

Around 30 foreign delegations attended the initial ceremonies, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and representatives of Hezbollah and Hamas. Turkey's vice president, India's deputy foreign minister, a senior Chinese official and Bangladesh's parliament speaker were also present. No European leaders were invited. Conspicuously absent was Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as supreme leader in early March. He was injured in the same attack and has not appeared publicly since, communicating only through attributed statements. An ayatollah described as his representative in India cited security concerns for his non-attendance, while speculation persists that his health remains poor.

Security lockdown and massive logistics

Tehran has been turned into a fortress. Roads in much of the city centre are closed to private vehicles, the airport is partially shut and will close completely on Monday, and airspace is restricted. Government offices are closed from Saturday to Monday. Hotels offered 50% discounts, schools and mosques were prepared to host mourners, and bus and rail schedules were rerouted. State media reported that 50 million loaves of bread would be baked to feed attendees.

Stalled peace talks and domestic discontent

The funeral unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile peace process. A preliminary agreement with the United States was signed over two weeks ago, with a 60-day window to reach a full deal, but negotiations have stalled. Talks mediated by Qatar on 1 July focused on the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, while the nuclear programme remains a distant issue. Both sides agreed to meet again after the funeral.

Those present have chosen the right side of history.

Iranian authorities frame the event as a show of unity and strength after months of war and protests over living costs. Yet analysts note that public support for the Islamic Republic is thin. Many Iranians are exhausted by decades of sanctions and repression, and when news of Khamenei's death spread in February, residents in parts of Tehran reported hearing cheers from windows.