The announcement was made by Iran’s state television, which disclosed that funeral ceremonies will begin on July 4 in Tehran, more than four months after Khamenei was assassinated during US-Israeli airstrikes.
Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, while Iranian authorities officially confirmed his death the following day, March 1. Since then, plans for his burial have been delayed several times.
His final resting place will be the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of the most sacred sites in Shia Islam, where he is scheduled to be buried on July 9.
Iranian officials are preparing for what could be one of the largest public gatherings in the country’s history, with as many as 20 million people expected to participate in funeral events across multiple cities. Authorities have also declared a period of national mourning ahead of the ceremonies.
As part of the arrangements, funeral processions will pass through Tehran, Qom and Mashhad. In line with Khamenei’s wishes, each procession is expected to continue for at least 24 hours before moving to the next city.
Khamenei served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for 37 years. He assumed the position in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Khomeini and remained the country’s highest political and religious authority until his death earlier this year.