Iran sets funeral dates for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

WEB DESK: Iran has released a detailed schedule for the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death has triggered a period of national mourning across the Islamic Republic.

The ceremonies are expected to attract millions of mourners from Iran and neighbouring countries. They will take place over several days in major religious and political centres, combining public mourning with official state events.

Officials have urged citizens to participate in the processions while security forces prepare for large-scale crowd management.

Mourning ceremonies in Tehran and Qom

Public mourning will begin in the capital with funeral processions and ceremonies from July 4 to 6. These events are anticipated to fill Tehran’s major avenues and squares as Iranians pay their respects to the man who steered the country for more than three decades following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

On July 7, the focus will shift to the holy city of Qom, home to major seminaries and a significant Shia clerical establishment, where another major procession is planned.

Processions extend to Iraq and Mashhad

The schedule includes cross-border commemorations on July 8 in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, important pilgrimage sites for Shia Muslims worldwide. Iranian authorities are coordinating with Iraqi counterparts to facilitate the participation of pilgrims and dignitaries.

The final procession is set for July 9 in Mashhad, culminating in the burial of Ayatollah Khamenei at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS). The shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, is expected to host vast crowds during the interment.

The elaborate arrangements underscore the late leader’s enduring religious and political significance in Iran and the broader Shia world.

Senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and other state figures, are expected to lead the ceremonies, while regional leaders and international delegations have been invited to attend.

Pakistan to send delegation to funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that Pakistan will send a high-level delegation to Iran for the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, following an invitation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Speaking at the open session of the National Assembly in Islamabad on Friday, Sharif described Iran as “not only a friendly country but our brotherly nation and neighbour,” adding that “a Pakistani delegation will attend the funeral ceremony of the martyred leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution between July 3 and 4