The funeral ceremonies for the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei kicked off on Friday morning as foreign delegations arrived in Tehran to pay tribute to the martyred Leader.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is united in grief tonight as the nation and foreigners bid farewell to the martyred Leader, a man who guided the Revolution for nearly four decades.
Today, the body of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was carried to the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in the heart of Tehran. He was 86 years old when he attained martyrdom on February 28, falling in US-Israeli strikes that marked the opening salvo of a war that shook the region.
For six days, from Tehran to Qom, from Najaf to Mashhad, the Islamic world will stand in solidarity.
Iranian expects between 15 and 20 million mourners to line the streets, a display of devotion and national unity unlike any seen in modern history.
Here you can find the latest updates on the ceremony.
Iranian officials pay tribute to martyred Leader
Iranian officials, including the heads of three branches, paid their respects to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
IRGC warns enemies against miscalculation ahead of public farewell ceremony
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Friday that any enemy miscalculation would be met with a response "more crushing than ever, recorded forever in their history of humiliation," as the nation gathered to bid farewell to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
In a lengthy statement marking the funeral rites of Ayatollah Khamenei, the IRGC said the late leader's martyrdom had opened a new chapter of global awakening and sacred Islamic unity, while casting despair into the hearts of the "American-Zionist enemy" and its regional and international backers.
The IRGC said the majestic funeral ceremony is not merely a farewell but a "great resurrection to renew the covenant with pure Islam, the lofty ideals of the revolution and the continuation of the path of the martyred leader."
It called on the Iranian people to turn out in millions for the rites, saying their presence would be a "firm and meaningful answer to the ill-wishers and enemies of the homeland."
"This readiness is not merely a military display, but a declaration of the disgust of a risen nation, avenging all oppression and aggression, which under the shadow of guardianship and reliance on divine power will bring the enemy to its knees," the IRGC said.
Pezeshkian issues message
Pezeshkian issues message
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a message ahead of the farewell and magnificent funeral procession for the martyred Leader, called on all Iranians to turn out in massive numbers. He stressed that the Leader's name, thought, and legacy will forever remain in the nation's historical memory.
The President described the martyrdom as a profound loss but also a moment that reveals the strength of the Islamic Republic's foundations — faith, ideals, and the will of a great nation. He said this red ascension is not an end, but the beginning of a new chapter of solidarity, resilience, and growth.
Pezeshkian emphasized that the flag of independence, religious democracy, and resistance, which the Leader held high through decades of struggle, will never be brought down. He called on Iranians of every ethnicity, religion, and political preference to join the funeral rites, describing their presence as a decisive response to the logic of terror and oppression, and a clear message to the world of the nation's unity and resolve.
World figures pay respects to martyr Khamenei
Foreign dignitaries and international delegations have begun arriving in Tehran to attend the farewell and funeral ceremonies for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
Leader's coffin arrives at Mosalla
The Leader's body, along with those of his companions, was transferred to Tehran's Grand Mosalla early Friday and placed in the main prayer hall ahead of a two-day public farewell ceremony.
Religious scholars and cultural figures from Indonesia and Afghanistan were among the first foreign guests to pay tribute. Representatives of Iran's recognized religious minorities also attended the ceremony to honor the late Leader.
Senior officials and representatives from more than 30 countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Georgia and Cuba, have arrived in Iran to attend the funeral ceremonies following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike during the opening day of the recent 40-day war.
