Iran is holding funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s late Supreme Leader, as Iran prepares for his burial on March 6. A three-day public farewell ceremony began in Tehran at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall, where people are gathering to pay their respects and say final prayers for the former leader.
Officials say the ceremony started late Wednesday evening and will continue through the next few days. Crowds have been invited to visit the Mosalla prayer ground to offer prayer and show their farewell to Khamenei’s body. Iranian state media reported that details and the schedule of the funeral procession have yet to be fully announced, but authorities expect a large public turnout during the events.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic since 1989, was reported killed in recent airstrikes involving the United States and Israel. His death marked a historic moment in Iran’s political life, prompting a 40-day mourning period and national announcements of public holidays.
After the formal prayers in Tehran, Khamenei is expected to be buried in the holy city of Mashhad on March 6. Mashhad, where his father is buried at the revered Imam Reza shrine, holds deep personal and religious significance for the leader. Preparations for the burial are reported to be underway, with security and ceremonial arrangements being finalised.
Iran has also formed a temporary leadership council to oversee governance and ongoing affairs until a new Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts. This transition period adds to the solemn nature of the funeral and burial events as the nation mourns a leader who governed for nearly four decades.
