Iran prepares for up to 3,000 deaths at Khamenei's funeral, one of the costliest state funerals in modern history: Report

Iranian authorities have made extensive preparations for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral while also planning for a possible mass casualty scenario involving between 1,500 and 3,000 deaths, according to a report by Germany's WELT.

The report, written by an anonymous journalist in Tehran, cited a confidential letter from the Iranian Red Crescent and the national crisis management organization addressed to First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref. According to the report, officials have established a special unit to manage the dead and missing, while thousands of new graves have been prepared at Tehran's Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.

A Tehran municipality employee was quoted saying that the graves exist and people a


"The prepared graves really exist," a Tehran municipality employee was quoted as saying. "Those responsible were told that up to 3,000 dead would be okay. With such a large crowd and this extreme heat, no one knows what will happen."

Funeral ceremonies span multiple cities

The funeral ceremonies began in Tehran on Saturday and will continue through Qom, the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala before concluding in Mashhad, where Khamenei is scheduled to be buried on Thursday.

Iranian officials have said the ceremonies could attract as many as 20 million attendees, although the figure has not been independently verified.

Large-scale security and logistical arrangements in place

Authorities have implemented an extensive security and logistical plan that includes movement restrictions, possible disruptions to air travel, thousands of buses, temporary kitchens, and the use of schools and mosques to accommodate participants.

Tehran Municipality, led by hardline mayor Alireza Zakani, is deploying 11,000 buses while metro and bus rapid transit services will operate free of charge around the clock. Each district of Tehran has been allocated the equivalent of approximately 500,000 to 650,000 euros for the three-day ceremonies.

According to government-linked journalists cited by WELT, the budget for the ceremonies in Tehran is estimated at around 15 million euros, with an additional five million euros allocated to both Qom and Mashhad. Including events planned in Najaf and Karbala, the funeral could rank among the most expensive state funerals in modern history.

Previous funeral tragedies heighten concerns

Concerns over crowd safety come against the backdrop of previous deadly funeral gatherings in Iran.

At least 56 people were killed and more than 200 injured during the 2020 funeral of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in Kerman. The 1989 funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini also descended into chaos, leaving at least eight people dead and hundreds injured.

Political tensions accompany funeral events

WELT also reported growing political tensions surrounding the ceremonies. According to the report, hardline supporters have used nightly gatherings to denounce the US-Iran memorandum and issue threats against senior officials involved in negotiations, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The report added that some participants have called for continued war in response to Khamenei's killing, while videos circulating online show hardline religious speakers delivering militant speeches, with some appearing alongside rifles.

Public criticism over costs

The funeral is taking place amid increasing public frustration over the cost of the ceremonies, the country's economic difficulties, and the government's use of state resources for the event, according to the WELT report.