Khamenei funeral LIVE updates Mourners gather for the start of the dayslong funeral ceremonies for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran.
Iran news LIVE updates: Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility that week-long funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could result in between 1,500 and 3,000 deaths, Germany’s Die Welt reported, citing a classified document and municipal sources in Tehran. According to the report, Iranian officials have drawn up contingency plans for a potential mass-casualty incident during the funeral processions, which are expected to draw massive crowds from across the country….Read More
Die Welt said a classified letter from the Iranian Red Crescent and the National Crisis Management Organisation to First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref projected a possible death toll of between 1,500 and 3,000 people.
Khamenei’s funeral and six days of ceremony
Iran officially began six days of public funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday morning, state television reported. The funeral processions will later continue in Iraq before his burial.
Iranian authorities say they expect between 15 and 20 million people to take part in the events in Tehran alone over the next three days.
The funeral ceremonies will commemorate Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic from 1989 until he was killed at the age of 86 on the first day of the United States and Israeli war with Iran on February 28.
The events are expected to be closely watched for any public appearance by Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. He was named Supreme Leader a week after his father’s death but has not yet appeared in public.
By Friday evening, hundreds of supporters of the Islamic Republic had already gathered outside Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, waiting for it to open to the public at 6 am local time on Saturday.
Khamenei’s funeral to last several days
His body will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it will be taken in a funeral procession through the streets of Tehran before being moved to the Shia seminary city of Qom, about 120 kilometres south of the capital. Funeral ceremonies will continue there on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Karbala in Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who is regarded by Shia Muslims as a symbol of resistance.
The day also marks the anniversary of the protests against Khamenei’s rule, during which thousands of people were killed by security forces.
After the ceremonies in Karbala, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city.
Trump’s swipe at Iran as Tehran begins public funeral ceremonies
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was eager to reach an agreement with Washington and said America had dealt a heavy blow to Tehran. He also said Washington had allowed Iran extra time to hold funeral ceremonies.
“We knocked the hell out of Iran. They are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly,” he said.
“We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice, that’s true,” he added.
Khamenei to be buried at Imam Reza shrine
Iranian authorities have said Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
Imam Reza was the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. The shrine attracts millions of pilgrims every year, and a hadith, or saying, says that those who visit it seeking relief from sorrow or forgiveness for their sins will find comfort.
Several prominent Shia clerics have been buried at the shrine, including former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024.
Follow all the updates here:
Jul 04, 2026 6:35:18 PM IST
Iran news LIVE: Lebanon urges US to back Israel-Hezbollah peace framework
Iran news LIVE: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged the United States to stand by Lebanon as it seeks to implement a US-backed framework aimed at permanently ending hostilities with Israel following the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.
The framework, agreed in Washington, proposes the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area, beginning with two designated “pilot” zones.
Hezbollah, however, has rejected the proposal, arguing that it does not include a clear timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Jul 04, 2026 5:41:18 PM IST
Iran news LIVE: Tehran braces for up to 3,000 deaths during Khamenei funeral, says report
Iran news LIVE: Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility that the week-long funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei could leave between 1,500 and 3,000 people dead, Germany’s WELT reported, citing a classified document and municipal sources in Tehran.
The report, filed from Tehran by an anonymous author whose identity is known to WELT’s editors, said officials have drawn up contingency plans amid fears of a possible mass-casualty incident during the funeral processions for the slain former Supreme Leader.
According to WELT, a classified letter sent by the Iranian Red Crescent and the country’s National Crisis Management Organization to First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref estimated that the ceremonies could result in between 1,500 and 3,000 deaths, prompting authorities to prepare emergency response measures.
Jul 04, 2026 4:47:56 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Tens of thousands gather in Tehran to pay final respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Tens of thousands of Iranians gathered at a sprawling outdoor prayer complex in Tehran on Saturday to pay their final respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic for 37 years before being killed at the outset of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Dressed in black and carrying Iran’s red, white and green flags, mourners held up posters and printed photographs of Khamenei and his son and successor as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, as they queued to view the late leader’s coffin.
Jul 04, 2026 3:11:16 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran state broadcaster says Ayatollah Khamenei’s farewell marks start of ‘Great Khamenei Era’
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran’s state broadcaster has described the farewell ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the beginning of the “Great Khamenei Era.”
Speaking on Saturday, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Payman Jebeli, said extensive arrangements had been made to cover the mourning ceremony live, according to Press TV.
Jebeli said more than two dozen satellite news gathering (SNG) units had been deployed at key locations to broadcast the event. He added that over 30 mobile broadcast units, each equipped with six to 12 cameras, had been stationed along the route of the farewell procession to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Jul 04, 2026 2:15:14 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: ‘Revenge, revenge’, mourners in Iran chant amid funeral processions
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Thousands of people gathered in Tehran early on Saturday to pay their final respects to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During the funeral, mourners beat their chests and repeatedly chanted, “revenge, revenge”.
“We have come not for the funeral but for revenge,” a eulogist at the event chanted. “We’re never going to give up your blood, which is the reddest line.”
Many of those attending were in tears as they passed through tight security to reach the courtyard where Khamenei’s coffin had been placed for the public to offer their respects.
“We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader,” Hamidreza Shabani, an 18-year-old student, told news agency AFP.
Jul 04, 2026 1:30:55 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Slain Iran supreme leader’s funeral to last several days
Khamenei funeral LIVE: His body will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it will be taken in a funeral procession through the streets of Tehran before being moved to the Shia seminary city of Qom, about 120 kilometres south of the capital. Funeral ceremonies will continue there on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Karbala in Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who is regarded by Shia Muslims as a symbol of resistance.
The day also marks the anniversary of the protests against Khamenei’s rule, during which thousands of people were killed by security forces.
After the ceremonies in Karbala, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city.
Jul 04, 2026 1:09:26 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Visuals show huge crowds in Tehran
Khamenei funeral LIVE: More than 10 million people, including representatives from over 100 countries, are expected to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, officials in Tehran expect.
Khamenei was killed along with members of his family at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Iran’s embassy in India shared visuals from Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, where large crowds gathered to pay their final respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Jul 04, 2026 12:36:58 PM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Funeral starts as US marks its 250th anniversary
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran began the public funeral processions on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
While officials did not comment on the timing, crowds gathered in Tehran chanted: “Death to America!”, a slogan that has been widely used in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the takeover of the US embassy and the hostage crisis.
“We knocked the hell out of Iran,” US President Donald Trump said during a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. “They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral.”
Trump was also a focus of attention in Tehran. At the Grand Mosalla, several mourners held a large flag carrying the message: “#KillTrump.”
Jul 04, 2026 11:55:13 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: More than 5,000 schools open doors to pilgrims for Iran leader’s funeral
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Schools across Tehran have been opened to accommodate people travelling to attend the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, the country’s education minister said more than 5,000 schools and around 40,000 to 50,000 classrooms across the country have been made available to welcome pilgrims attending Khamenei’s funeral.
More than 10 million people, including representatives from over 100 countries, are expected to gather in Tehran for the funeral.
Jul 04, 2026 11:30:21 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: What Trump said in jibe at Iran as Tehran mourns slain leader
Khamenei funeral LIVE: “We knocked the hell out of Iran,” US President Donald Trump said during a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
“They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral.”
Trump was also a focus of attention in Tehran. At the Grand Mosalla, several mourners in the crowd held up a large flag carrying the message: “#KillTrump”, Associated Press reported.
Jul 04, 2026 11:01:36 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Afghan FM, Pakistani PM pay respects to Khamenei
Khamenei funeral LIVE: The foreign minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban government and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid their respects at the coffin of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, Iranian state television showed.
Foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit came only hours after Ahmad Massoud, the leader of an anti-Taliban group, arrived in Tehran. His father had received backing from Iran during the 1990s.
Sharif, whose country has been acting as a mediator in United States-Iran talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict, was accompanied by army chief Asim Munir and a delegation during the visit to Khamenei’s coffin.
Jul 04, 2026 10:39:49 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Huge crowds gather in Tehran to mourn slain supreme leader
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei officially began on Saturday, state television reported, an event drawing thousands and intended to serve as a show of strength to the Islamic republic’s foes.
Iranian authorities say they anticipate between 15 and 20 million participants in Tehran alone over the next three days for tributes to the man who ran the country for three-and-a-half decades.
Jul 04, 2026 10:23:53 AM IST
US-Iran war LIVE: Iran’s chief negotiator Ghalibaf hits back at Trump over ‘hungry nation’ remarks
US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday slammed US President Donald Trump over his remarks on Iran’s economy and food needs.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf wrote, “Imagine having forty-something million of your own citizens on food stamps and calling another nation hungry. This is not a proclamation. This is a projection. Keep your SNAP advice.”
“Our assets, our choices. Mind your malnutrition rates,” he added.
The remarks came after Trump claimed in an interview with CNBC that Iran’s economy had been badly hit. “They have 300 per cent inflation, they’re making no money,” he said.
“They need food. They need corn, wheat, and soybeans, and we’re going to have exclusively our American farmers provide that. Assuming we get to the position where we should get to,” he said.
Jul 04, 2026 10:05:38 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Posters against Trump, US surface in Tehran
A woman holds a poster with an image of U.S. President Donald Trump, on the day of a public farewell ceremony to pay respects to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, in Tehran, Iran. (REUTERS)
Khamenei funeral LIVE:Thousands of people carrying red banners, a symbol associated with calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s sprawling Grand Mosalla religious complex as they awaited the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin, AFP news agency reported.
Chants of “death to America” and “revenge, revenge” echoed across the venue. Posters against the US and American President Donald Trump were also seen at the site.
Jul 04, 2026 9:48:24 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran unveils Khamenei’s casket in glass case before weeping mourners
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran unveiled the casket of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, placed inside a glass case, before thousands of grieving mourners in Tehran as the country’s funeral ceremonies got underway, Associated Press reported.
Jul 04, 2026 9:42:49 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Where will Iran’s late supreme leader be buried?
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iranian authorities have said Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
Imam Reza was the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. The shrine attracts millions of pilgrims every year.
A hadith, or saying, states that those who visit it seeking relief from sorrow or forgiveness for their sins will find comfort.
Several prominent Shia clerics have been buried at the shrine, including former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024.
Jul 04, 2026 9:26:29 AM IST
Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Trump jabs Iran as Tehran begins public funeral processions
Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: US President Donald Trump said, “We knocked the hell out of Iran. They are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly.”
“We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice, that’s true,” he added.
Notably, Iran officially began six days of public funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday morning.
Jul 04, 2026 9:22:52 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Former Russian president Medvedev pays respects
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, whose country maintains close ties with Iran, paid his respects at the coffin of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, Iranian state media reported.
Medvedev, described on state TV as a “special emissary of Russian President Vladimir Putin”, was received by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and top diplomat Abbas Araghchi.
Jul 04, 2026 8:57:41 AM IST
Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: ‘Death to America’, ‘revenge’ chants heard as Khamenei funeral ceremonies begin
Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially began on Saturday, state television reported. The ceremonies have drawn thousands of mourners and are expected to project a show of strength by the Islamic Republic.
Thousands of people carrying red banners, a symbol associated with calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s sprawling Grand Mosalla religious complex as they awaited the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin, AFP news agency reported.
Chants of “death to America” and “revenge, revenge” echoed across the venue.
Jul 04, 2026 8:38:53 AM IST
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Who represented India at slain Iran supreme leader’s funeral?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Union minister of state Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain attended the funeral ceremony of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday and paid their respects on behalf of the government and the people of India.
The Embassy of Iran in India also issued a post sharing visuals of Hasnain and Margherita offering their respects in a hall where the ceremony to mourn his death was held.
Jul 04, 2026 8:24:48 AM IST
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran begins public funeral ceremony
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran officially began six days of public funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday morning, state television reported. The funeral processions will later continue in Iraq before his burial.
Thousands of mourners carrying red banners, a symbol often linked to calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla ahead of the arrival of Ali Khamenei’s coffin.
They chanted “death to America” and “revenge, revenge”, according to news agency AFP, which is present at the scene.
Jul 04, 2026 8:12:41 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Tehran funeral venue opens to public, local media reports
Khamenei funeral LIVE: The gates of Tehran’s Grand Mosalla opened before dawn on Saturday, allowing members of the public to enter several hours before the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
Jul 04, 2026 7:59:30 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Crowd of 20 million expected to attend funeral ceremonies
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Huge crowds of Iranians were expected to pay their final respects to supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday at the start of marathon funeral ceremonies intended to serve as a show of strength to the Islamic republic’s foes.
Iranian authorities say they anticipate between 15 and 20 million participants in Tehran alone over the next three days for tributes to the man who ran the country for three-and-a-half decades.
Jul 04, 2026 7:40:07 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Thousands enter funeral venue ahead of processions
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Thousands of mourners entered Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Saturday for the funeral ceremonies of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, AFP reported, ahead of the official start of the events.
The main courtyard of the sprawling religious complex was filled with mourners as authorities enforced extensive traffic restrictions across the Iranian capital.
The news agency reported seeing people walking several kilometres to reach the venue.
Jul 04, 2026 7:36:17 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran’s Ghalibaf, Araghchi break down in tears during farewell
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf attend the farewell ceremony. (REUTERS)
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi broke down in tears during the farewell ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday.
The emotional scenes unfolded as Iran began mourning ceremonies for the late leader, who was killed in United States and Israeli strikes on February 28 this year.
Jul 04, 2026 7:26:54 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Mojtaba to skip funeral processions due to injuries, says report
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered serious injuries in the strike that killed his father at the start of the war, including burns to his face and body, as well as leg injuries that required multiple surgeries, NBC News reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
The report added that Mojtaba will not attend the funeral of his father because of his injuries and ongoing security concerns.
Jul 04, 2026 7:21:01 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Iran leaders pay last respects to Khamenei
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Senior Iranian officials on Friday paid their final respects to former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the country began a week of funeral ceremonies. Allies and mourners gathered in Tehran, where his body is lying in state.
State television showed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian paying tribute at Khamenei’s coffin on Friday afternoon. Iran parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was also present.
Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological wing of Iran’s military, also made his first public appearance since the war began in February.
Jul 04, 2026 7:16:33 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Slain Iran supreme leader’s funeral to go on for days
Motorists drive past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ahead of his funeral. (AFP)
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Starting today, Iran will begin several days of funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His body will be taken in funeral processions across cities in Iran as well as neighbouring Iraq.
Authorities are expected to impose widespread restrictions in Tehran, including road closures, airspace restrictions and the suspension of normal public activities, as mourners gather to honour Khamenei.
Across Tehran, banners bearing images of the late leader’s raised fist have been put up, while a large installation in Enghelab Square depicts his clenched fist with what appear to be ballistic missiles in the background.
In his first message to the nation, read out by a state television presenter, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he saw his father’s body after his death with his fist raised and clenched.
Jul 04, 2026 7:08:51 AM IST
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Millions expected in Tehran for funeral processions
Khamenei funeral LIVE: Massive crowds are expected to gather in Tehran on Saturday to pay their final respects to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran begins six days of funeral ceremonies.
Iranian authorities say they expect between 15 and 20 million people to take part in the events in Tehran alone over the next three days.
Load More