Iran conducts massive funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, burial in Mashhad

Mourners lined the streets of Tehran in a massive display of grief following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Al‑Sistani. The funeral procession began in the capital, where crowds gathered in the early hours to pay their respects before the national flag was lowered for the first time in months. Security forces maintained a tight perimeter as the mourners moved through the city’s main avenues, a scene broadcast live across the country.

The state‑organized rites extended beyond Tehran, with ceremonies held in several provincial capitals and major cities. Delegations from the government, religious institutions, and foreign embassies joined the mourning process, while local communities organized vigils and memorial services. After the final rites in Tehran, the body was transported to Mashhad, the site of the Imam Reza shrine, where the burial took place amid a solemn procession that attracted thousands of pilgrims and officials alike.

The burial in Mashhad marked the culmination of a national period of mourning that had been declared by the government. The ceremony underscored the significance of the Imam Reza shrine as a spiritual and cultural landmark, and the event was attended by senior clerics, political leaders, and representatives from international organizations. The funeral proceedings were conducted under strict security protocols, reflecting the importance of the occasion for Iran’s political and religious establishment.