Millions Attend the First Funeral Prayer for Ayatollah Khamenei

Darwin, 05 July : The first funeral prayer for the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (RA), and members of his family was held in Tehran, with millions of mourners reportedly taking part. The event was reported by Qatar-based Al Jazeera and Iran’s Press TV.

The funeral ceremony began at 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran. The first stage of the funeral prayer concluded around 11:00 a.m. Bangladesh time. The prayer was led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani in the presence of an enormous congregation.

Funeral Held in Three Stages

The funeral prayers for Imam Khamenei and his family members were conducted in three stages.

The first stage was offered over the body of Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei (RA).

The second stage was held for Martyr Seyyeda Bushra Hosseini Khamenei, Martyr Dr. Mesbah al-Huda Bagheri Kani, and Martyr Fatemeh Haddad Adel.

The third stage was offered for Khamenei’s granddaughter, Martyr Fatemeh Mohammadi Golpaygani.

As the main prayer hall reached full capacity, all entrances to the complex were closed several hours before the funeral prayer began.

The roads and surrounding areas of the Mosalla were filled with mourners who had gathered to pay their respects and offer prayers for the late leader.

Sea of Mourners Since Dawn

The bodies were placed at the Grand Mosalla on Saturday for the public to pay their final respects. From early morning, people from all walks of life continued to arrive in large numbers.

By mid-morning, the entire area had turned into a sea of mourners, with millions attending to bid their final farewell.

Security forces, emergency responders, medical teams, and volunteers remained on duty throughout the event. Arrangements were also made for transportation, medical assistance, food, and rest facilities for the attendees.

Week-Long State Funeral

Following the funeral prayer, a week-long state funeral procession will take place.

A mourning rally is scheduled in Tehran on Monday, followed by commemorative events in Qom on Tuesday. Later in the week, the body will be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Finally, on Thursday, it will be returned to Iran for burial in Mashhad.

Authorities estimate that more than 10 million people have participated in the events in the capital alone, while some estimates suggest that the total attendance may have reached 20 million.

The official funeral ceremonies began on Friday, with foreign dignitaries and government delegations from across the region and beyond paying their respects.

Among the prominent attendees were Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council; Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of Türkiye; Nizar Amidi, President of Iraq; Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir; President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia; and a senior representative from China.

Heightened Security

Authorities imposed extensive security measures across Tehran for the mourning ceremonies. Armored vehicles, heavy weapons, and sniper units were deployed around the Grand Mosalla and surrounding areas.

Iran observed its second consecutive day of national mourning following Khamenei’s death. Videos broadcast by state media showed crowds at several metro stations chanting, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

As part of Shi’a mourning traditions, red flags were raised at various locations across the capital, while portraits depicting Khamenei with a raised fist were displayed prominently. Throughout the ceremonies, mourners chanted the slogan, “We Must Rise.”

Ayatollah Khamenei had led the Islamic Revolution since 1989. According to the account presented in this text, he was martyred at the age of 86 on 28 February, which it describes as the first day of the latest phase of what it characterizes as an unprovoked aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic.