Iran Stages Grand Funeral for Khamenei Amid Us-israel Tensions

WHO:

CNN - Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed.

CNN - Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is the parliamentary speaker leading negotiations with the US.

AP News - Gen. Ahmad Vahidi leads Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

The Times of Israel - Abbas Araghchi is the Iranian Foreign Minister.

The Times of Israel - Mojtaba Khamenei is the new Supreme Leader and son of Ali Khamenei.

WHAT:

CNN - A weeklong funeral for Khamenei is being held across five cities in Iran and Iraq.

CNN - Millions of mourners are expected to attend the funeral.

AP News - A smaller service for Khamenei was held near his former home in Tehran.

The Times of Israel - The funeral processions will begin on Saturday and conclude on July 9 with Khamenei's burial in Mashhad.

The Times of Israel - Attendance estimates for the funeral range from 15 to 20 million mourners.

WHERE:

CNN - The funeral will take place in Tehran, Mashhad, and Qom in Iran, as well as in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq.

AP News - The Grand Mosalla in Tehran is the location for Khamenei's body to lie in state.

WHEN:

CNN - Khamenei was killed on February 28.

The Times of Israel - The public funeral will begin on Saturday and conclude on July 9.

WHY:

CNN - The grand funeral is intended to send a message of resilience to the world and Iran's enemies.

The Times of Israel - Ghalibaf called for the Iranian people to pay respects to Khamenei to write a "glorious page" in history.

HOW:

CNN - Authorities have mobilized government employees, universities, labor unions, and religious groups for the funeral.

CNN - Security measures include shutting down streets and airspace in Tehran.

CNN - More than 6,000 overhead water sprinklers have been installed to cool crowds.

AP News - Khamenei's coffin was carried overhead by security forces as it arrived at the Grand Mosalla.

The Times of Israel - Public and private offices in Tehran will close from Saturday through Monday during the funeral.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 06:14 UTC)

In a significant development, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named the new Supreme Leader. A weeklong funeral is set to take place across five cities in Iran and Iraq, with millions of mourners expected to attend, culminating in Khamenei's burial in Mashhad on July 9. Authorities are mobilizing various groups for the event, implementing extensive security measures, including street closures and the installation of overhead sprinklers to cool the crowds.