Ahead of Ali Khamenei’s funeral, Iran enters days of memorial ceremonies under tight security and broad public mobilization

Memorial ceremonies for Ali Khamenei have begun in Iran’s main cities and will culminate on July 9 with his funeral.

The country’s authorities are preparing a large-scale ceremony, accompanied by strict security measures and broad public engagement to take part in the tributes and funeral procession.

Tehran, together with the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, has declared public holidays, while businesses have been asked to close from Saturday through Monday. The public ceremony will open on Saturday at the Grand Mosalla complex, in the heart of Tehran, the site where Friday prayers and Iran’s largest religious gatherings are held.

According to the plan made public by the authorities, the bodies of several of Khamenei’s slain relatives will also be displayed during the ceremony, alongside his body. It is still not known whether his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, already declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader, will attend the funeral.

Reports say Mojtaba Khamenei was with his father on February 28, when their shelter was hit by American and Israeli missiles. According to those reports, he was injured and has not appeared in public since then.

After the ceremony in Tehran, Ali Khamenei’s body is expected to be taken to Iraq, where tributes will be held in the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf. He will then be laid to rest in the holy city of Qom on July 9.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on citizens “of every nationality, religion, belief and political preference” to take part in the funeral, describing their presence as a message of weight to the international community.

“Your massive presence will be a decisive response to the logic of terrorism, violence and intimidation tactics, as well as a clear message to the world that the Iranian people stand united in defense of their independence and dignity,” Pezeshkian declared.

The postponement of the burial has drawn attention, given that in Muslim tradition the deceased are usually buried within a short period. Iranian authorities have rejected claims that the body was temporarily buried, stressing that it has been preserved in accordance with the rules of the Islamic faith.

The Iranian government aims to present this ceremony as a moment of national unity, shared mourning and resilience in the face of external pressure. The funeral’s official emblem depicts Ayatollah Khamenei’s clenched fist, accompanied by the slogan: “We must rise.”

The ceremonies are also expected to be used as a display of Iran’s regional influence and its ties with Shiite communities. Large-scale memorial events have also been planned in Iraq, a country with a large Shiite population and militias backed by Tehran.

Organizing this entire operation represents a considerable logistical challenge. Authorities have designated large parking areas on the outskirts of Tehran, where visitors will leave their vehicles before continuing by bus toward the city center. Barracks and schools have been made available to accommodate pilgrims arriving from across the country.

At the same time, work is continuing at the Grand Mosalla complex to build platforms and organize entrances and exits, with the aim of managing the large number of participants expected at the funeral ceremony.