--- title: "Iran prepares for the long-delayed funeral of its slain Supreme Leader" description: "Iran is mobilizing for the state funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its Supreme Leader of 37 years, who was killed in a US-Israeli air strike in February at the start of this year's war. The ceremonies, beginning July 4 in Tehran, come with his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, still largely unseen in public." category: "World" category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/world author: "Daniel Morales" published: 2026-07-02T10:02:00.000Z updated: 2026-07-02T10:02:00.000Z canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/iran-prepares-for-the-long-delayed-funeral-of-its-slain-supreme-leader tags: ["iran", "khamenei", "middle-east", "funeral", "succession"] --- # Iran prepares for the long-delayed funeral of its slain Supreme Leader Iran is mobilizing for the state funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its Supreme Leader of 37 years, who was killed in a US-Israeli air strike in February at the start of this year's war. The ceremonies, beginning July 4 in Tehran, come with his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, still largely unseen in public. Iran is preparing for one of the largest state funerals in its modern history, months after the death of the man who led the country for nearly four decades. The funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader since 1989, is due to begin on July 4, closing a long and unusual gap between his death and burial. ## A death in wartime Khamenei was killed on February 28, at the opening of this year's war, in what reports describe as a joint US-Israeli air strike on his residence in Tehran, [according to Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/13/iran-announces-funeral-burial-dates-for-late-supreme-leader-khamenei). His burial had originally been planned for March but was repeatedly postponed as the conflict dragged on, leaving the country without the mass public mourning that traditionally follows the death of a paramount leader. That the funeral is happening only now, more than four months later, is itself a measure of how disruptive the war has been. Officials have cast the ceremonies as a national moment on the scale of the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, whom Khamenei succeeded. ## The schedule The commemorations are spread across several days and cities, [NBC News reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/funeral-irans-late-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei-set-july-war-delay-rcna349928). Ceremonies begin in Tehran on July 4, followed by a service in the holy city of Qom on July 7 and burial in Mashhad, Khamenei's home city and one of Shia Islam's most important shrine cities, on July 9. State media have said authorities expect very large crowds, and delegations from a number of countries are anticipated. ## A successor who has stayed hidden The funeral unfolds against an unresolved question of leadership. Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts in March, days after his father's death. But he has kept an extraordinarily low profile since taking office: he has not appeared at public events, and Iranian officials have released only written statements in his name rather than images or recordings. Whether Mojtaba will appear in public for the first time at his father's funeral has become a focus of speculation inside and outside Iran. His succession was also contentious. Some accounts describe irregularities in the selection process and pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on members of the assembly — claims newsparlor could not independently verify, and which supporters of the government reject. ## Questions over turnout The government's preparations have drawn criticism at home. Iran International, an outlet based abroad and often critical of Tehran, reported that state institutions had taken steps to boost attendance — among them canceling staff leave at a state telecommunications firm and arranging free transport and meals to bring people from outside the host cities. Some Iranians cited by the outlet argued the measures suggested officials feared limited spontaneous turnout. The authorities have not detailed such arrangements publicly, and the true scale of participation will only become clear once the ceremonies begin. Iranian officials present the funeral as a demonstration of enduring public devotion; critics see an effort to project unity at a fragile moment. ## A pivotal moment For Iran, the funeral is more than a rite of mourning. It marks the formal passing of an era defined by Khamenei — who over 37 years presided over the expansion of the country's military and security institutions and its long confrontation with the United States and Israel — and the start of a new and uncertain chapter under a leader most Iranians have yet to see or hear. How the country navigates the days ahead will offer the first real test of that transition. ## Sources - [Iran announces funeral, burial dates for late Supreme Leader Khamenei](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/13/iran-announces-funeral-burial-dates-for-late-supreme-leader-khamenei) - [Funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei set for July after war delay](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/funeral-irans-late-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei-set-july-war-delay-rcna349928) - [Iranians criticize Khamenei funeral plans, organized turnout](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202606296196)