Funeral proceedings for Iran’s late supreme leader are set to begin in Tehran on July 4, 2026, with the body displayed at the Grand Mosalla throughout the weekend. The ceremonies will include a series of events across multiple cities, reflecting both religious significance and political symbolism.

On Monday, the funeral cortege will traverse the streets of Tehran before heading to Qom, a key center for Shiite scholarship approximately 120 kilometers south of the capital. Additional tributes are planned there for Tuesday.

The procession will then move to Karbala, Iraq, on Wednesday, coinciding with the anniversary of protests against the late leader’s regime that led to violent clashes and thousands of deaths. Karbala is home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, a figure deeply revered in Shiite Islam as a symbol of resistance and martyrdom. The event is expected to carry strong symbolic weight given the date’s historical significance.

The funeral rites will conclude in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, where the deceased will be buried at the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam in Shiite tradition. This shrine is a major pilgrimage site, drawing millions annually. It is also the resting place of several prominent Shiite clerics and notable figures, including the late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024. According to Shiite beliefs, visiting the shrine offers spiritual relief from grief and sin.

Amid these developments, uncertainty surrounds the public role of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader and son of the deceased. Reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly sustained injuries in the attack that killed his father, has remained out of the public eye since assuming leadership. It is unclear whether he will appear during the funeral events.