Iran to Hold State Funeral for Late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 131 Days After Death

Tehran. The state funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be held 131 days after his death. The final tribute program, which will run from July 4 to 9, will be completed after a journey of approximately 3,000 kilometers through five major cities in Iran and Iraq.

According to Iranian officials, the final journey will start from Tehran and pass through Najaf and Karbala in Iraq before returning to Qom and Mashhad in Iran. This program is expected to be one of the largest state tribute ceremonies in Iran's history.

Why the delay of four months?

Iranian officials have stated that the funeral was postponed for four months due to the war with the United States and Israel, security challenges, diplomatic strategies, and religious reasons. Although the funeral was initially planned between March 4 and 6, the program was postponed due to the war situation and the assessment of increased security risks in large public gatherings.

According to analysts, one reason is that Iran wanted to portray Khamenei as a 'symbol of resistance' rather than a 'victim' after peace talks progressed. Tribute programs will be held at Imam Khomeini Musalla in Tehran on July 4 and 5. During this time, the body will be kept for public tribute for three days.

A procession of about 10 kilometers will be taken out from Imam Hussein Square to Azadi Square in Tehran on July 6. Afterwards, the body will be taken to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. It is said that these cities have also been included in the journey at the request of religious leaders and communities there. After that, the final journey will be completed through Qom and Mashhad in Iran, concluding with the funeral.

Strict security arrangements have been made in Iran and Iraq for the ceremony. Preparations are underway under a special committee led by Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been given the responsibility for security and crowd management. In Mashhad, the procession will be secured by helicopter if necessary.

Mosques, schools, universities, and sports complexes will be used as temporary accommodation for traveler management, and highways in Tehran are being prepared to be converted into temporary parking lots. Some commercial flights may also be affected for some time.

It is still unclear whether the newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will participate in his father's funeral. According to reports, he was also seriously injured in the February 28 attack. Due to his health condition and security risks, the possibility of him appearing in public is uncertain.

According to Islamic tradition, a son performs the funeral prayer for his father and plays a leading role in the funeral. Therefore, if Mojtaba Khamenei participates in the funeral, it is analyzed that it will address many of the questions raised about his leadership and health. However, Iranian officials have not yet officially announced who will perform the funeral prayer.