Iran Holds Dayslong Funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran began an extended funeral for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, July 4, 2026, following his death in an airstrike at the onset of a conflict. He was 86. The Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran’s capital, hosted the event, drawing a large crowd of mourners.

Authorities displayed Khamenei’s casket in a glass case. Many attendees, moved to tears, chanted for revenge, while some carried banners and flags. Billboards in the city featured Khamenei’s image, and men engaged in the chest-beating ritual typical at Shiite funerals.

Among the mourners was Hananeh Mousavi, 27, who came with her mother to say goodbye. She expressed her deep sorrow and wished she had not lived to see this day.

I am here to say goodbye to my beloved leader Ali Khamenei, she said.

The Grand Mosalla also featured a stage reminiscent of the one at Khamenei’s compound, destroyed during the Israeli airstrike on February 28. The raid claimed the lives of Khamenei and several family members. Notably, his black turban—a symbol of his descent from the Prophet Muhammad—marked him distinctly.

The government anticipated a turnout similar to that of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s funeral in 1989, with millions in attendance. To manage the heat, organizers provided water and cold drinks to the crowd.

Ali Kazemi traveled from Tabriz, 530 kilometers away, to demonstrate his commitment to defending Iran and its beliefs.

We attended the funeral to show that we are all committed to defend our country and religion, said Kazemi.

This large public gathering may strengthen the government’s position during talks with the United States about concluding the ongoing conflict and amid growing fears of further Israeli attacks.

The funeral commenced on July 4, coinciding with the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration, prompting chants of “Death to America” from the crowd, echoing sentiments prevalent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the situation from the United States, referring to the confrontation with Iran during a speech in South Dakota.

We knocked the hell out of Iran, Trump stated.

Iran’s mourners did not forget Trump, displaying a flag in the crowd with the message: “#KillTrump.”

Khamenei’s remains will travel to other Iranian cities and neighboring Iraq. The government has closed streets and airspace in Tehran during this period of public mourning. There is uncertainty about whether Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, will attend his father’s funeral.

Mojtaba, who lost his wife in the airstrike, has been threatened by Israel. Iran’s military has cautioned both Israel and the U.S. to avert any dangerous miscalculations.