Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, state television reported. The ceremonies will continue across several cities in Iran before moving to Iraq ahead of his burial. Iranian officials expect between 15 and 20 million people to attend the events in Tehran over the next three days.
Khamenei led the Islamic Republic from 1989 until his death at the age of 86. He was killed on February 28, the first day of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Attention Shifts to Iran's New Supreme Leader
Many people are watching the funeral ceremonies for another reason. They want to see whether Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, will make his first public appearance. Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader one week after his father's death. However, he has not appeared in public since taking office.
By Friday evening, hundreds of supporters had gathered outside Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex. They waited through the night for the gates to open at 6 a.m. local time on Saturday.
Funeral Procession Will Travel Across Iran and Iraq
Officials will keep Khamenei's body at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. Thousands of mourners are expected to pay their final respects. On Monday, officials will carry his coffin through the streets of Tehran in a large funeral procession. They will then move it to the holy Shia city of Qom, about 120 kilometres south of the capital. Funeral ceremonies will continue there on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, officials will take Khamenei's body to Karbala in Iraq. The city is home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Shia Muslims honour Imam Hussein as a symbol of sacrifice and resistance.
The same day also marks the anniversary of protests against Khamenei's rule. During those demonstrations, security forces killed thousands of people, according to reports.
After the ceremonies in Karbala, officials will return Khamenei's body to Iran. They will then take it to Mashhad, the country's second-largest city.
Trump Says Iran Wants a Deal
As the funeral ceremonies began, US President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to reach an agreement with Washington after the recent conflict. “We knocked the hell out of Iran. They are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly,” he said.
Trump also claimed that the United States gave Iran extra time to complete the funeral ceremonies. "We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice, that's true," he added.
Khamenei to Be Buried at Imam Reza Shrine
Iranian authorities confirmed that they will bury Khamenei at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Imam Reza was the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine every year. A hadith says people who visit the shrine seeking relief from sorrow or forgiveness for their sins will find comfort.
The shrine also serves as the final resting place for several prominent Shia clerics. Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, is buried there as well. The funeral ceremonies will remain under global attention. They mark the end of Khamenei's long rule and the beginning of a new chapter under Iran's new Supreme Leader.