What to know about the funeral and burial of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and who's attending from India

Mourners in Iran and Iraq will spend the coming days bidding farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after the killing of Iran's supreme leader at the start of its war with the United States and Israel. The funeral, delayed by the fighting, will test the theocracy's ability to summon a mass show of public support.

When did Khamenei die?

Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly four decades, was killed on February 28 when the US and Israel jointly launched their war against the country. The funeral could not be held immediately as the conflict continued.


Also read: Ali Khamenei's body arrives in Tehran ahead of funeral expected to draw millions

Why this funeral matters?

The ceremony comes six months after security forces cracked down on nationwide protests against Khamenei's rule, making the turnout a signal of how much support the establishment can still muster. An uneasy ceasefire, followed by an interim deal with the US, is understood to have given authorities the confidence to go ahead with a public ceremony involving top officials.

It also remains unclear whether Khamenei's son and successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, will make his first public appearance during the proceedings. He is believed to have been wounded in the attack that killed his father and has stayed out of public view since.

The funeral schedule?

The ceremony begins Saturday in Tehran, where Khamenei's body will lie at the Grand Mosalla through Sunday. On Monday, the body will be paraded through Tehran before moving to the seminary city of Qom, about 120 kilometres south, where he will be honoured on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the body travels to Karbala in Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein. The same day marks the anniversary of the 2025 crackdown that killed thousands of protesters. The body will finally be taken to Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city.

Where will Khamenei be buried?

Authorities have said Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites. Several senior clerics are buried there, including former president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Also read: Mojtaba Khamenei to skip father Ali Khamenei's funeral over security concerns: Report

Large religious funerals in Iran have turned deadly before. Millions turned out for the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and the crush of the crowd caused his body to fall from its casket; at least eight people died and around 11,000 were hurt. In 2020, a stampede at the funeral of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani killed at least 56 people. Large crowds are expected to turn out for Khamenei's funeral in the coming days.

Who is attending from India?

According to reports, India will be represented at the state funeral by a deputy foreign minister and a state governor. Separately, opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Mehbooba Mufti are among those travelling to Tehran after being invited by the Office of Iran's Supreme Leader, which described Mufti as a "distinguished guest" citing India-Iran ties.

Where does the interim deal stand?

The interim deal reached in June opened a 60-day window to negotiate a final settlement to the war, including Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Technical talks began in Qatar this week but have been complicated by disagreements and renewed exchanges of fire between the US and Iran over the strait.

With inputs from AP