According to reports from Reuters and Deutsche Welle on July 2, the memorial events will commence in Tehran and will proceed to the Shia holy city of Qom, as well as to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. The funeral will conclude with a burial ceremony in Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown, on July 9.
Khamenei went into hiding on February 28, the first day of the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran. He died in a residential and commercial area in downtown Tehran. The funeral was initially scheduled for early March but was postponed for over four months due to concerns over war and security. Iranian authorities formalized the schedule after a fragile ceasefire with the U.S. was established.
The Iranian government is preparing for this event as a major national occasion. Ali Reza Zakani, the acting mayor of Tehran, stated that the memorial would be the "largest gathering in the history of the capital." A three-day official mourning period has been designated in Tehran, during which many businesses and public institutions are expected to close.
The attendance of foreign dignitaries further enhances the political significance of the funeral. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be present, along with He Wei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from China. Dmitry Medvedev, former President of Russia, is expected to attend as a special envoy of President Vladimir Putin. India will also send a delegation led by a deputy minister and a governor.
Ahead of the funeral, Iran has intensified its warnings directed at the U.S. and Israel. Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Central Command of the Unified Armed Forces, cautioned that "Iran's enemies, particularly the U.S. and Israel, must avoid any miscalculations." He warned that any threats or attacks against Iran would result in "harsh retaliation."
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed similar sentiments, responding to remarks made by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz, who stated that the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, had become a target for Israel. Araghchi asserted that threats against Iran's leadership would be met with immediate and strong responses.
However, there are reports of dissent regarding the large-scale mobilization for the funeral. The opposition-leaning media outlet Iran International cited citizen reports claiming that public sector employees, self-employed individuals, charities, and restaurants are being pressured to attend and support the event. Allegations have also surfaced that some shops and sports facilities have been ordered to close during the mourning period.
Iranian authorities have announced that the national bakers' association will prepare 50 million loaves of bread for the event, and mobile baking facilities will be deployed in the Tehran area. However, amid ongoing economic difficulties, some citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the extensive resources and manpower being allocated to the funeral.
The timing of this state funeral, beginning on U.S. Independence Day, carries significant symbolism. Iran aims to demonstrate that its governing order remains intact following the death of its Supreme Leader. However, allegations of forced mobilization and economic strain are also surfacing, indicating that Iran faces the dual challenge of maintaining internal unity while managing public discontent.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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