04.07.2026 10:40
The official funeral ceremony for Iran's former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who lost his life in the attack carried out by the US and Israel on February 28, has begun in the capital Tehran. During the largest state funeral in the country's history, red flags symbolizing revenge were carried, while Trump said, "We gave Iran a week off due to the funeral."
The funeral ceremony for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who lost his life in the February 28 attack on Tehran, the capital of Iran, by the US and Israel, continues.
REVENGE SLOGANS RISE FROM TEHRAN
The funeral, which began yesterday with a state ceremony and was only open to visits by foreign dignitaries, is being held publicly today. Thousands of people gathered at and around Imam Khomeini Mosque in the capital Tehran to bid farewell to Khamenei on his final journey. The crowd chanted slogans, "Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!" Meanwhile, red flags, seen as symbols of revenge, were also carried by thousands.
THE MOST CROWDED FUNERAL IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY
In Tehran, where the temperature hovered around 31 degrees Celsius, water spraying systems were used to cool the crowd. Iranian officials expect 15 to 20 million people to attend the funeral, and if realized, it will be recorded as the largest state funeral in the country's history.
SON DID NOT ATTEND THE CEREMONY
Ali Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not attend the state ceremony held yesterday for security reasons. Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since the attack that killed his father, also did not attend the memorial ceremony held on Thursday for his wife, who also died in the same attack.
TRUMP: WE GAVE THEM A WEEK OFF DUE TO THE FUNERAL
US President Donald Trump argued that Iran "very much wants" to reach an agreement, saying he gave the Tehran administration "a week off" for the state funeral of former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, who died in the US-Israel attack. Speaking in South Dakota on the 250th anniversary of the country's independence, Trump made statements about Iran. Repeating the rhetoric that they "obliterated Iran," Trump claimed Iran "very much wants" to reach an agreement. Trump stated, "We gave (Iran) a week off due to the funeral."
KHAMENEI TO BE BURIED ON JULY 9
The public ceremony for Khamenei and his family members will continue tomorrow. On July 6 and 7, the funeral procession will pass through other areas of Tehran before being taken to the city of Qom. Khamenei's body will then be taken to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala on July 8 for display. After Iraq, Khamenei's body will be returned to Iran and buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9. The funeral, originally planned for last March, was postponed due to ongoing attacks by the US and Israel.