04/07/2026 09:31 - Internacionales
Thousands of faithful gathered since dawn to pay tribute to the Supreme Leader, in what is projected to be the largest funeral in Iran's history.
According to reports from Deutsche Welle (DW), the state funeral for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei officially began this Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Tehran. His coffin is on display at the Grand Mosala, a vast religious complex in the capital, covered by his iconic black turban. Authorities expect between 15 and 20 million people to attend the tributes in the Iranian capital alone.
The event, which will last for six days, is intended as a show of institutional strength. The casket will remain on display day and night until Monday, July 6 at the Mosala, before a procession through the streets of Tehran. Subsequently, it will stop in several cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq, concluding with his burial on July 9, 2026 in the holy city of Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, which was his birthplace. For geographical and cultural context, Mashhad is one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam and a major pilgrimage site.
These funerals take place four months after the Ayatollah's death and occur during a transition period. Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, who succeeded him in early March as the Supreme Guide, now heads the Islamic Republic. The event unfolds amid diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran, following the signing of a framework agreement in June to end the conflict, opening a window of hope for stability and peace in the Middle East region.
To ensure the well-being of attendees facing temperatures expected to exceed 35°C (95°F), more than 400 tents from the Iranian Red Crescent (the equivalent of the Red Cross in Muslim-majority countries) and water tanker trucks were installed in a large park in the capital. Resting next to Khamenei's coffin are those of his relatives who died with him, including a 14-month-old granddaughter.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
