Khamenei Funeral Starts July 4, With Burial Set for July 9 in Mashhad
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 13
Khamenei Funeral Starts July 4, With Burial Set for July 9 in Mashhad
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 13
Summary
July 4 marks the start of funeral rites for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, with burial scheduled for July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad.
State media said the ceremonies will also include a July 7 observance in Qom, extending well beyond the usual Islamic practice of burial within 24 hours because wartime exceptions apply.
Khamenei, 86, was killed on February 28 when Israeli and U.S. airstrikes hit Iran and destroyed his central Tehran compound at the start of the war.
His son Mojtaba, 56, who was injured in the same strike and lost his wife, succeeded him as supreme leader after Khamenei's 36 years in power.
The funeral timetable comes as Pakistan's prime minister said Iran and the United States have agreed on a peace framework and could sign an initial deal within 24 hours.
With a new leader and ongoing attacks, can the fragile U.S.-Iran peace framework prevent a wider regional war?
Iran's stockpile could build 10 nuclear bombs. Can this peace deal truly guarantee its complete and verified removal?
100 Days of Uncertainty: Iran’s Delayed Funeral, Succession Crisis, and Geopolitical Fallout After Khamenei’s Death
Overview
Following the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February 2026, Iran has entered an unprecedented period of uncertainty. The nation remains in limbo as the promised grand state funeral has been delayed for over 100 days, mainly due to significant security concerns amid heightened regional tensions. This delay has left the public confused about both the funeral and the transition of power. The situation is further complicated by the absence of the new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, from public view, deepening the sense of instability and raising questions about Iran’s future direction.