Iran sets July 9 funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after reported airstrike death

Iran is preparing for a large-scale funeral procession for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a US and Israeli airstrike on February 28th, 2026. The multi-day ceremony is scheduled to commence on July 4th in the capital city of Tehran, followed by events in the holy city of Qom on July 7th, culminating in his burial in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9th.

The funeral arrangements were initially planned for March but were postponed due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Assembly of Experts of Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, as the new Supreme Leader in early March. This appointment marks the third time Iran's top leadership position has changed hands since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly injured in the same attack that claimed his father's life and those of several other senior officials.

Iranian officials anticipate that between 15 to 20 million people will attend the funeral procession in Tehran, with the ceremony in the capital expected to last at least 24 hours. Citizens from neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India, are also expected to participate. The late Supreme Leader is to be buried in the Imam Reza burial complex, according to his wishes.

The report details that Khamenei's residence on Palestine Street in Tehran was targeted in the airstrike, which also resulted in the deaths of his wife, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old grandchild. The incident is framed within the context of a "regime change campaign" that triggered regional escalations, including Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel and US military bases, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, before a ceasefire was mediated.