Dmitry Medvedev attends the state funeral for the slain Iranian religious leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.Image: keystone
Four months after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has begun official funeral ceremonies for the longtime supreme leader. The ceremonies are not only intended to mourn, but also to send a political signal: the regime wants to demonstrate unity and control.
July 3, 2026, 10:16 p.mJuly 3, 2026, 10:18 p.m
The multi-day mourning and burial ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began in Iran on Friday. The country’s long-time supreme leader was killed in American-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. As the “New York Times” Reportedly, Iranian authorities received numerous foreign guests, clergy, representatives of allied militias and Iranian officials on the first day of the ceremonies.
Iranian state media published images of visitors standing in front of Khamenei’s coffin, praying, bowing or crying. The ceremony took place in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, a vast prayer complex where Khamenei gave many of his most important speeches during his decades-long rule.
The coffin was covered with the Iranian flag. On top of it lay a black turban and a black and white checkered scarf, as Khamenei often wore. The black turban indicates that Khamenei was considered a cleric who traced his ancestry to the Prophet Mohammed.
A week full of ceremonies
The funeral ceremonies are scheduled to last several days. The public will be able to see Khamenei’s coffin on Saturday. A large procession is planned in Tehran on Monday. The body will then be taken to holy Shiite cities in Iraq before Khamenei is buried in his hometown of Mashhad.
According to the New York Times, the fact that the funeral takes place more than four months after his death shows how extraordinary the situation in Iran has been since the attacks by the USA and Israel. The government apparently first had to clarify whether it could safely carry out such a major event.
Khamenei’s death marks the end of a political era for Iran. As supreme leader, he determined the direction of the Islamic Republic for more than 37 years. He was the central figure of the system, controlled the basic lines of domestic and foreign policy and shaped the country’s political landscape for decades.
Government wants to demonstrate strength
The Iranian leadership is also using the funeral ceremonies to show stability. After months of war, protests, internet shutdowns and massive security precautions, the production is intended to signal internally and externally that the system continues to function.
Signs of mourning could already be seen everywhere in Tehran on Friday. Large black banners hung on bridges and buildings. Khamenei’s portrait was visible on billboards along major streets. Some subjects showed him alone, others together with his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei. This visually stages the transition from one center of power to the next.
Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new supreme leader in March. He has not appeared in public since then. It is unclear whether he will personally appear at any of the funeral rituals.
Dmitri Medvedev on the red carpet.Image: keystone
Not everyone mourns
The government is trying to portray Khamenei as a revered leader of international stature. But this image is not shared by all Iranians. Many associate his long rule with repression, corruption, economic decline and political paralysis.
The New York Times expressly points out that the voices it was able to capture during the state-organized ceremonies do not have to be representative of the entire Iranian population. The newspaper was given access to certain events, but was accompanied by a government-provided translator and a companion. Some respondents are therefore unlikely to have expressed themselves freely.
Yet there is also real sadness among Khamenei’s supporters. A 24-year-old woman told the New York Times in Tehran that she still could not believe that Khamenei was dead. She traveled with her family from Malard, west of the capital, to take part in the ceremonies.
Foreign delegations arrive
According to organizers, more than 50 official foreign delegations took part in the funeral on Friday. The guest list shows which networks Iran can still mobilize even after the war.
Among those expected from Russia were Dmitri Medvedev, the former president and current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council. Russia supported Iran during the war with Israel and the USA. Conversely, Iran has supplied Russia with drones in its war against Ukraine.
China sent senior parliamentarian He Wei, according to the report. Beijing is of central economic importance to Tehran. China has been one of the most important buyers of Iranian oil for years.
Representatives of Shia communities from abroad were also present, including delegations from Pakistan. During the ceremonies, Iran wants to portray Khamenei not only as a political leader but also as a Shiite authority with an international following.
Militias and regional actors on site
According to Iranian state media, representatives of Iranian-allied militias from Iraq, including Kataib Hezbollah, were also present. The group has attacked US targets in Iraq in recent months. Also seen were relatives of slain leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
The Iraqi leadership was also represented. Iraqi President Nizar Amedi and Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi attended the ceremonies. Your visit comes at a delicate moment: the new government in Baghdad is under increasing pressure to loosen its close ties with Iran.
The funeral service also brought together actors who would otherwise be in conflict or indirect hostility. The president of the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, met Iranian representatives. His region is home to Iranian Kurdish exile groups that have been in a shadow conflict with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard for years.
Taliban and their opponents at the same ceremony
Prominent guests were also expected from Afghanistan. According to the New York Times, the participants included Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the most influential Taliban representatives, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Also seen at the same time was Ahmad Massoud, the son of the legendary anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. Today he leads one of the most important opposition groups against the Taliban from abroad. The fact that representatives of the Taliban and one of their most famous opponents appeared at the same memorial service shows the special diplomatic reach of such ceremonies in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Syed Asim Munir were expected from Pakistan. Pakistan currently has a tense relationship with Afghanistan, accuses the Taliban of supporting militant groups and has been embroiled in a conflict since late February in which hundreds of people have been killed.
Tehran is preparing for a major demonstration
In Tehran, the authorities were already preparing on Friday for the public mourning events in the coming days. Streets were closed, security forces were visible in large numbers in the center, and many shops remained closed. Authorities say it is one of the largest public gatherings in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Volunteers set up refreshment points along the planned routes. A helper told the New York Times that around 300,000 water bottles should be distributed at his location alone. Eggs, lentils, watermelons and snacks were also prepared for the mourners.
For the Iranian leadership, the funeral is much more than a religious ritual. It is an attempt to show strength after months of severe shocks, to make loyalty visible and to make the transfer of power to Mojtaba Khamenei appear to be an orderly transition. Whether this image also applies outside of the staged funeral events is another question. (mke)