Iran has announced that funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be held across three major cities—Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad—according to a senior municipal official.
Tehran’s deputy mayor for social and cultural affairs, Mohammad Amin Tavakkoli-Zadeh, said preparations are underway for an estimated 15 to 20 million mourners in the capital alone. He added that authorities expect one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s history.
Officials confirmed that Khamenei’s burial will take place at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, in line with his reported will and recommendations from close associates. The city is also expected to host large numbers of international visitors from countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and the Kashmir region.
The funeral process is planned to span multiple days, with three days of ceremonies and a major procession in Tehran lasting at least 24 hours. Regional provinces have also requested permission to hold parallel memorial events.
Authorities stated that the ceremonies are expected to take place toward the end of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and are being organized on an unprecedented scale.
The announcement follows heightened regional tensions after reported US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February, which triggered retaliatory attacks across the region and disrupted key maritime routes. A ceasefire mediated by Pakistan was later established, although diplomatic negotiations have yet to produce a lasting resolution.