Iran Prepares for Dayslong Farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The casket of Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, granddaughter of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was displayed alongside his own and those of other family members at a viewing ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, July 3, 2026. This event marked the beginning of dayslong funeral ceremonies for the 86-year-old cleric, whose leadership spans decades.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral is expected to draw millions to Tehran’s streets from Saturday, evoking memories of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s burial in 1989. The theocracy seeks public solidarity after a devastating war, leveraging its strategic hold on the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the United States. Amid these tensions, Iran remains wary of potential attacks from Israel.

General Ahmad Vahidi, leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, emerged publicly after months for the funeral. Iran’s top government officials and foreign dignitaries are also expected to attend, reinforcing the strength and stability of the Islamic Republic.

“As long as these people, who are chosen by God, are on the field, we will continue the ‘no to humiliation’ policy founded by the Islamic Republic,” said Mohammad Hossein Rezaei, a volunteer for the funeral preparations. “We will pursue independence and make decisions within the nation.”

Caskets Displayed in Tehran

Khamenei’s coffin, draped in Iran’s flag, rested at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla alongside those of family members killed in an Israeli airstrike on February 28. The deceased included his son-in-law, eldest daughter, 14-month-old granddaughter, and the wife of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly remains in hiding after an injury.

Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and President Masoud Pezeshkian paid their respects, alongside religious leaders and foreign dignitaries. State media aired ceremonies from Thursday night, showing mourners, some identified as family members of those lost in the 2025 war, participating in a traditional practice by brushing items against the coffin.

Khamenei’s casket later appeared draped with a red flag inscribed with “Ya Hussein,” a Shiite expression honoring the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. The flag, having flown over the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, Iraq, symbolizes unjustly spilled blood and a call for vengeance.

Top General Reemerges

Online state media images showed General Ahmad Vahidi at a meeting regarding the funeral of Khamenei. He later sat beside Khamenei’s casket as Iran’s leadership held a smaller service on Thursday night in downtown Tehran.

“The pure blood of our martyred imam will mark another turning point in Islam’s global victories,” Vahidi declared on state television. “They will carry to their graves the desire to see this nation surrender. Our nation will rise higher with this pure blood.”

Vahidi plays a significant role in shaping Iran’s stance in negotiations for a possible permanent end to the war with the U.S. He had not appeared publicly since February 8, weeks before the war’s onset, as Israel targeted top Iranian leaders and has threatened the life of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. It is uncertain if Khamenei will attend his father’s funeral; his father appeared at Khomeini’s 1989 funeral, visibly mourning and later leading with resolve against the West.

Iran’s military has warned Israel and the U.S. against any “miscalculation” during the upcoming days.

Continued Mourning

Starting Saturday, Khamenei’s body will be transported through Iranian and Iraqi cities. Authorities plan to halt street, air, and daily activities in Tehran as millions are expected to pay their respects.

Banners picturing Khamenei with his fist raised have been displayed, signifying resistance and fury. In his first address, Mojtaba Khamenei conveyed that his father’s clenched fist symbolizes unity among Muslims.

“This fist is the symbol of the nation’s power,” said Jafar Javadi, a taxi driver. “It means we are united, and our enemies will fall.”