10.07.2026 01:20
Former leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who lost his life in the US and Israeli attack, was laid to rest at the Imam Reza Shrine in his birthplace of Mashhad after a week-long funeral ceremony. As the funeral procession could not advance due to a stampede, Khamenei's body was transported to the shrine via an alternative route. At the ceremony attended by millions, the funeral prayer was led by his eldest son, Mustafa Khamenei, and Ali Khamenei was buried 131 days after his death.
Ali Khamenei, Iran's former leader who lost his life in the attacks launched by the US and Israel on February 28, was laid to rest in his birthplace, Mashhad, after a week of funeral ceremonies.
MILLIONS POUR INTO THE STREETS OF MASHHAD
After parts of the funeral ceremony held in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, the plane carrying Khamenei's body landed at Hasheminejad Airport in Mashhad today.
Millions of Iranians, gathered to bid farewell to Khamenei, poured into the streets of Mashhad to show their loyalty to their former leader. The vehicle carrying Khamenei's body was circulated among the people.
BANNERS READING "WE WILL KILL TRUMP" WERE UNFURLED
Khamenei's body was carried from the central Imam Reza Street in the city to the Imam Reza Shrine, where the funeral prayer would be held. Banners and posters carried by the attending Iranian people along the route, featuring slogans like "Revenge" and "We will kill Trump," also drew attention.
Groups in the procession were also seen carrying placards reading "We do not want negotiation."
IRANIAN WARPLANES ON ALERT
Due to ongoing US attacks against Iran during the funeral ceremony, Iranian warplanes conducted flights around the ceremony area.
BODY TRANSPORTED BY HELICOPTER WHEN CONVOY COULD NOT PROCEED
Due to the density of the crowd preventing the convoy carrying the body from advancing, the route was changed to reach the Imam Reza Shrine, where Ali Khamenei would be buried. As the convoy could not access the shrine, Khamenei's body was transported by helicopter.
FUNERAL PRAYER LED BY ELDEST SON MUSTAFA KHAMENEI
According to previous reports in the Iranian press, 101-year-old Iranian cleric Hossein Nouri Hamedani was expected to lead the funeral prayer for Khamenei, but the prayer was led by Khamenei's eldest son, Mustafa Khamenei. Many Iranian political and military officials also attended the ceremony. No explanation has yet been given as to why Hamedani did not officiate the funeral prayer.
BURIED 131 DAYS LATER
Khamenei was laid to rest in a special area prepared for him within the shrine, 131 days after his death, following the funeral prayer.
FIRST CEREMONY HELD IN TEHRAN
The official state ceremony for Ali Khamenei was held on Friday, July 3, at the Imam Khomeini Musalla Mosque in Tehran, with the participation of heads of state, parliament speakers, foreign ministers, and special representatives of governments from approximately 100 countries. The public farewell ceremony took place on Saturday at the Imam Khomeini Musalla Mosque, and the funeral prayer was held at the same location on Sunday.
FLOOD OF TEARS IN QOM
After the final ceremony in Tehran, Khamenei's body was brought to the city of Qom the following day. The millions of people attending the ceremony completely filled the road between the Jamkaran Mosque and the Hazrat Fatima Shrine. Slogans against the US and Israel were frequently chanted during the ceremony, and many Iranians were seen shedding tears as Khamenei and his family's body was brought to the area. The funeral prayer for Khamenei was led by Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.
CEREMONIES ALSO HELD IN NAJAF AND KARBALA
Large funeral ceremonies for Khamenei were also held in Iraq. First brought to the city of Najaf, Khamenei's body was taken in a funeral prayer at the Hazrat Ali Shrine, and then transported to Karbala under military convoy. Religious ceremonies were also performed for Khamenei at the Hazrat Hussain and Hazrat Abbas shrines.
In the funeral ceremonies, which included many senior Iranian and Iraqi officials, such as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zeidi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, many people bid farewell to Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala.