Iran Holds Ali Khamenei Funeral

Iran is holding a multi-day state funeral for its late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026, at the age of 86. The ceremonies, which began on July 4, 2026, are taking place across several cities in Iran, including Tehran, Iran — Qom, and Iran — Mashhad, and will extend to holy cities in neighboring Iraq, such as Iraq — Najaf and Iraq — Karbala. The Iranian government is orchestrating a massive public turnout, expecting millions of mourners, to project national unity, strength, and defiance against its adversaries, particularly the United States and Israel. High-ranking Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Revolutionary Guard head Ahmad Vahidi, are prominently featured in the ceremonies. Foreign dignitaries from over 100 countries, including Pakistan, Russia, and China, are attending, while European countries that supported military aggression against Iran were not invited. Security is extremely tight, with streets and airspace shut down, especially given the repeated threats from Israel against the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the attack that wounded him and killed his father. The funeral is seen as a critical moment for Iran, aiming to leverage its position in ongoing negotiations with the United States over a permanent end to the war and control of the Strait of Hormuz.