Iran has announced a major nine-day period of national mourning for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to state media, funeral ceremonies will start in Tehran on July 4, 2026, and continue until his burial in the holy city of Mashhad on July 9.
The events will continue over several days. People can pay their respects at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla on July 4 and 5, followed by a large funeral procession in the capital on July 6. More ceremonies will then take place in the religious city of Qom on July 7. Millions of people are expected to attend these tributes. Khamenei’s body will finally be laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his hometown.
Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 37 years, was killed on February 28, 2026, during joint US-Israeli airstrikes that started the recent war. The funeral was delayed for months because of the ongoing conflict. Now, with peace talks advancing through Pakistan’s mediation, Iran can finally hold these ceremonies.
Following his death, Iran named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader in March 2026. This marks a historic father-to-son transition in the Islamic Republic.
The mourning period comes during Muharram, a sacred month for Shia Muslims. It will bring together huge crowds and show national unity. Many world leaders and Iranian people are expected to pay their respects as the country moves forward after months of war.
