Iran announces funeral dates for late Supreme Leader
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The committee organizing the memorial for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Saturday that official funeral proceedings will commence on July 4, culminating with his burial in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad on July 9.
The announcement, carried by state-run news agencies, marks the first definitive timeline for the state funeral since Khamenei was killed more than four months ago on February 28 during a massive wave of joint US and 'Israeli' airstrikes on Tehran.
The multi-day processions were repeatedly postponed due to the ongoing regional war and intense bombardment, which prevented large public gatherings.
According to the official schedule, a public farewell and viewing will be held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Musalla in Tehran on July 4 and 5. The formal funeral procession will move through the capital on July 6, before moving to the holy seminary city of Qom on July 7.
Khamenei’s body will then be transported to his hometown of Mashhad for a final massive procession on July 9, where he will be laid to rest at the Imam Reza Shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.
Iranian authorities are preparing for an unprecedented logistical operation, anticipating up to 20 million attendees across the three host cities for the late leader who helmed the Islamic Republic for 37 years.
