Iran Plans Three-Day State Funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei, Expects Millions of Mourners

Tehran, June 2026 : Iranian authorities are preparing for what officials have described as an unprecedented three-day funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, with events planned across Tehran, Qom and Mashhad and millions of mourners expected to participate from Iran and abroad.

According to statements made by Tehran Deputy Mayor for Social and Cultural Affairs Mohammad Amin on Tuesday, extensive preparations are underway to accommodate what could become one of the largest public gatherings in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Amin said the ceremonies would honor Khamenei, who served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for more than three decades and remained one of the country’s most influential political and religious figures until his death earlier this year.

“We are witnessing the funeral of the world’s greatest anti-arrogance leader, the greatest commander in the fight against the U.S. and Israel, a great source of emulation and the leader of the Islamic Revolution,” Amin said while outlining preparations for the event.

Massive Preparations Across Multiple Cities

Iranian authorities are coordinating funeral arrangements across several provinces, with the main ceremonies scheduled to take place around the end of Dhu al-Hijjah and the beginning of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, likely during the third week of June.

While the final venue for the principal ceremony in Tehran has not yet been announced, officials are reportedly considering two major locations — the Tehran Mosalla prayer grounds and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic.

Authorities are expected to make a final decision on the venue in the coming days.

According to Amin, the funeral programme will begin with public farewell ceremonies, followed by funeral prayers and a large-scale procession. Officials estimate that the procession in Tehran alone could continue for at least 24 hours due to the expected turnout.

The deputy mayor said requests to host memorial events have been received from numerous provinces across the country, reflecting widespread interest in participating in the commemorations.

Millions Expected to Attend

Iranian officials have indicated that the funeral was postponed for several months because of the enormous logistical challenges involved in managing the expected crowds.

Authorities are reportedly preparing for between 15 million and 20 million participants, with neighbouring provinces instructed to make arrangements for a substantial influx of visitors.

Cities including Karaj, Qom, Qazvin, Saveh, Semnan, Garmsar and Varamin are coordinating with Tehran authorities to provide temporary accommodation, transportation facilities and public services for mourners travelling from different parts of Iran.

Officials said the scale of planning reflects both Khamenei’s political stature and his religious influence within Iran and across parts of the wider Muslim world.

Ceremonies to Continue in Qom and Mashhad

Following the Tehran events, funeral ceremonies will continue in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, both of which hold deep religious significance in Iran.

Amin stated that, based on what officials described as Khamenei’s wishes and recommendations from individuals close to him, burial is expected to take place near the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.

Mashhad is anticipated to become a major gathering point for mourners arriving not only from across Iran but also from neighbouring countries including Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

Iranian authorities said preparations are being expanded to accommodate international visitors and delegations expected to attend the commemorative events.

Regional Participation Anticipated

According to Iranian officials, interest in the funeral ceremonies extends beyond Iran’s borders.

Amin said Iraqi tribal leaders, religious scholars and members of parliament have expressed interest in participating in the commemorations. Discussions have reportedly taken place regarding potential memorial events outside Iran, although no final decisions have been announced.

Officials also cited reports of mourning ceremonies and commemorative gatherings held in several countries following Khamenei’s death.

The deputy mayor referred to symbolic memorial events that reportedly took place in Iraq, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Yemen, describing them as evidence of Khamenei’s influence among supporters across the region.

Security and Logistics

Overall command of the funeral arrangements will be overseen by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while municipal authorities and other government agencies will support crowd management, transportation, security and public services.

According to reports carried by Iran’s WANA news agency, officials are conducting detailed assessments of transportation routes, public infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms ahead of the ceremonies.

Authorities have described the event as “unprecedented,” citing the expected scale of attendance and the late leader’s standing within Iran’s political and religious establishment.

Legacy and Succession

Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei served as Iran’s Supreme Leader from 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. During his tenure, he remained the central figure in Iran’s political system, exercising significant influence over domestic governance, foreign policy and national security affairs.

Iranian officials have stated that Khamenei died during military hostilities earlier this year. Following his death, authorities announced in March that his second-oldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been appointed as his successor.

Since that announcement, Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained a low public profile and has not made major public appearances, prompting speculation in some media circles regarding his health and future leadership role. Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on such reports.

A Defining National Event

Organisers said cultural, artistic and social organisations across Iran are also preparing programmes linked to the funeral ceremonies. Officials described the commemorations as more than a state occasion, portraying them as a national and religious event expected to draw participation from diverse sections of society.

With preparations accelerating across Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, Iranian authorities believe the funeral ceremonies could rank among the largest public commemorations witnessed in the country since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, reflecting the enduring significance of one of Iran’s most consequential leaders.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)