Iran has announced that its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be laid to rest on July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of the most revered sites in Shia Islam.
According to Iranian state television, funeral rites for Khamenei will begin on July 4 in the capital, Tehran, more than four months after he was assassinated during joint United States-Israeli airstrikes.
Iranian authorities confirmed Khamenei’s death on March 1, a day after he was reportedly killed on February 28, 2026. Since then, plans for his funeral have faced several postponements.
Officials expect millions of mourners to participate in the ceremonies, with attendance projected to reach as many as 20 million people across different locations.
A period of national mourning has also been declared ahead of the burial.
Funeral processions are scheduled to take place in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. Iranian media reported that each procession will last at least 24 hours, in accordance with Khamenei’s wishes.
Khamenei served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for 37 years, assuming office in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. During his decades-long leadership, he remained one of the most influential figures in Iran’s political and religious establishment.
The burial ceremony in Mashhad is expected to attract dignitaries, religious leaders, and large crowds from across Iran and beyond.
