Funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued in Iran on Sunday, drawing massive crowds to the capital, Tehran. The ceremonies entered their third day as mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Funeral prayers were held in three separate stages at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla. The first prayer was offered for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The second included prayers for Seyyedeh Boshra Hosseini Khamenei, Mesbah al-Hoda Baqeri, and Zahra Haddad Adel. A third prayer is scheduled for Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, the late leader’s granddaughter.
The farewell ceremonies began on Saturday after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Large numbers of mourners gathered from across the country. Iranian authorities expect the funeral events to attract more than 10 million people in Tehran alone.
Sunday was declared a public holiday across Iran to allow citizens to participate in the ceremonies. Officials said the late leader’s body would leave the Grand Mosalla complex on Sunday evening. A major funeral procession is planned through Tehran on Monday.
After the capital procession, the coffin will travel to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday. It will then move to neighboring Iraq on Wednesday before reaching Mashhad on Thursday. The burial will take place at the shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city.
Many mourners wore black clothing and carried red flags, which symbolize vengeance and justice. Crowds also chanted slogans during the gathering while expressing grief over the leader’s death.
One mourner described the late leader as a father figure for the nation. He said many people felt deeply saddened by the loss and believed the country had lost an important guide.
Images from the ceremony showed the coffin of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei placed on a raised platform. A black turban rested on top of the coffin. Coffins of four family members, who were also killed in the February 28 strikes, were placed nearby during the ceremony.
The funeral events come after weeks of military tensions in the Middle East. A ceasefire and an initial agreement with the United States have temporarily paused the conflict. However, both Tehran and Washington have stated they remain prepared if hostilities resume.
Iranian officials have described the funeral as a display of national unity. President Masoud Pezeshkian said the large public turnout reflected the respect many Iranians had for the late leader. He also criticized Israel, calling it a source of instability in the region.
The president added that Muslims would continue to resist oppression and external pressure. His remarks were delivered during Saturday’s ceremony before thousands of mourners.
Several regional allies also attended the funeral events. Delegations from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Yemen’s Houthi movement were present. Representatives met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during the ceremonies, according to state media.
The funeral has also attracted international attention. Observers see the large public gatherings as an important moment for Iran following recent domestic protests and regional conflict. Authorities hope the ceremonies will demonstrate public support for the country’s leadership during a period of heightened tensions.
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The multi-day funeral processions are expected to conclude on Thursday with the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, marking the end of one of the largest public mourning events in Iran’s recent history.
