Authorities in Tehran say preparations are nearing completion for the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli-US airstrike four months ago. The multi-city ceremony is expected to draw millions, with the burial set for Mashhad.
Iranian authorities report that preparations for the mass funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in an Israeli-US airstrike four months ago, are complete, with burial confirmed in the holy city of Mashhad. The announcement follows a series of planning milestones over the past weeks, as the ceremony now appears imminent.
As The Zioneer has reported, the funeral itinerary was first outlined in early June, when Iran's vice president said neighboring states had requested to send over a million mourners (Wed Jun 10, 15:36 Jerusalem). By June 22, Iranian state TV added an international leg in Iraq's Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala (Mon Jun 22, 19:44 Jerusalem), and a Qom ceremony was reported the same day (Mon Jun 22, 09:20 Jerusalem). The body was exhumed from its temporary grave in Qom on June 30 (Tue Jun 30, 18:56 Jerusalem). On Wednesday July 1, 08:08 Jerusalem, the desk reported that the ceremony was set for July 4–9 at Tehran's Grand Mosallah—a date later revised as funerary preparations neared completion, and now the burial is confirmed for Mashhad.
Earlier unverified social-media reports had suggested July 4, US Independence Day, as the funeral date (Tue Jun 23, 22:29 Jerusalem), though that timing was never independently confirmed. The current preparations mark the final stage of a four-month process since Khamenei's elimination.
It remains unclear whether the July 4–9 schedule originally reported still stands, or if the completion of preparations means the multi-city ceremonies will begin sooner than previously stated. The reported international leg in Iraq has not been confirmed by Iraqi authorities.
5 developments
- DevelopingIran deputy says neighbors want to send over 1 million mourners to Khamenei funeral
- DevelopingIndia sends special delegation to Iran for Khamenei funeral
- DevelopingSenior officials from over 30 countries confirm attendance at Khamenei funeral on Friday
- StrongIranian media: Khamenei funeral ceremony to be held in Qom on Tuesday
Source and signal
- Internal intake