Four months after being killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike, Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set to undergo a six-day funeral and burial process. As part of these formal proceedings, his remains will be transported to the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. According to the schedule announced by the Iranian state mourning committee, the body of the late leader will visit six major cities.
On Saturday, July 4, the remains will be placed at the Imam Khomeini Mosque complex in Tehran for public viewing. This will be followed on Monday, July 6, by a major funeral procession through the main streets of the capital. On Tuesday, July 7, the remains will be transported to the holy city of Qom before being flown directly to Najaf International Airport in Iraq.
After concluding formal tributes at the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, the procession will travel by road to Karbala. On Wednesday, July 8, a large state funeral prayer will be held in the area known as the Bayn al-Haramayn, located between the shrines of Imam Hussain and Abbas in the historic city of Karbala. Finally, on Thursday, July 9, the remains will be returned to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad via Najaf. Mashhad, the birthplace of Khamenei, will serve as the final resting place, with the burial scheduled at the shrine complex of Imam Reza, where his father is also interred.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 36 years, was killed on February 28 during the opening day of the conflict. Several other members of his family were also killed in the same strike, while his son and the current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained injuries. The process of organizing the state funeral had been repeatedly delayed due to the ongoing wartime situation. While a brief state ceremony was held in April, it did not constitute the full funeral proceedings.
State television has indicated that the authorities expect approximately 20 million people to attend the events over the six-day period. Invitations for the funeral have been extended to leaders from various nations, including Bangladesh. Iranian government agencies are currently coordinating security and logistical arrangements to ensure the environment is suitable for the massive expected crowds.
In Shia religious culture, it is widely believed that taking the body of a prominent religious leader to the shrines of the Imams before burial is a highly auspicious act. Furthermore, in Shia political philosophy, Karbala is not merely a geographic location but the ultimate symbol of uncompromising resistance against injustice and a profound manifestation of self-sacrifice. The upcoming events reflect both the religious devotion and the political weight associated with Khamenei’s leadership in the region.
