Khamenei Funeral at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla Deferred Due to Unprecedented Crowd

The funeral ceremony for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been postponed following what authorities described as an unprecedented turnout of mourners in the capital. Iranian state media reported on Wednesday that the farewell event, originally scheduled for 10 p.m. local time at the city’s main prayer complex, would be deferred due to expectations of exceptionally large crowds gathering to pay their respects.

The ceremony had been planned at Imam Khomeini Mosalla, a major religious and public gathering site in Tehran traditionally used for Friday congregational prayers and large state events. According to official reports, a revised schedule for the ceremony will be announced later. Authorities indicated that logistical and security considerations linked to the anticipated turnout played a key role in the decision to postpone the event.

Earlier, Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, had announced that the public would be allowed to attend a three-day farewell ceremony at the Mosalla. He said the prayer hall would remain open for visitors and urged citizens to participate in large numbers to mark what he described as a significant national moment. The body of the late leader was expected to be made accessible to mourners beginning at the originally scheduled time, with ceremonies continuing over several days.

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Khamenei, 86, was killed on Saturday in reported US-Israeli air strikes, alongside several family members and senior military commanders, according to Iranian authorities. His death has triggered widespread reactions across the country and heightened tensions in the region. State institutions have since moved to organise official mourning events and manage large public gatherings across major cities.

Following the three-day mourning period, officials plan to hold a funeral procession, although final arrangements are still being finalised. Media reports suggest that Khamenei is likely to be buried in Mashhad, his birthplace and one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam, where his father is interred at the shrine of Imam Ali Reza. Further details regarding the updated ceremony schedule and burial plans are expected to be released by authorities in the coming hours.

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