Funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the late Supreme Leader of Iran, and four members of his family were offered in Tehran as millions of mourners gathered to pay their final respects. The ceremony took place at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where large crowds filled the complex and surrounding streets despite extremely hot weather.
The prayers were led by senior cleric Jafar Sobhani, one of Iran’s most respected religious scholars. While several members of Khamenei’s family attended the service, his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was absent. Reports suggest he has remained out of the public eye since reportedly being injured earlier this year.
Iran declared a public holiday to allow citizens to participate in the funeral events. The late leader’s coffin, covered with the Iranian national flag and topped with his traditional black turban, was displayed alongside the coffins of four family members who also lost their lives. Among them was an infant granddaughter, making the ceremony even more emotional for mourners.
President Masoud Pezeshkian and several senior government officials attended the prayers, while delegations from regional allies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, were also present to offer condolences.
Authorities expect more than 10 million people to take part in the funeral processions across Iran. After ceremonies in Tehran, the coffin will travel to Qom, followed by Iraq, before the final burial in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown.
Security has been significantly increased to manage the large crowds and reduce the risk of accidents. Officials have also introduced measures to protect mourners from the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C. Water stations, refreshments, and cooling mist systems have been installed to help people remain safe during the historic farewell ceremony, which is being closely watched both inside Iran and around the world.
