Iran has postponed the state funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was scheduled to take place in Tehran on Wednesday evening, saying the decision was made because authorities expect an “unprecedented turnout” of mourners and need more time to prepare.
The farewell ceremony, originally planned for later the same day, was cancelled just hours before it was due to start, with state television reporting that a new date will be announced later as organisers work to accommodate the expected large crowds.
“The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later,” Iranian state television announced.
Ali Khamenei, 86, was reportedly killed over the weekend during joint US-Israeli strikes that targeted key military and government installations in Tehran, in what is described as a major escalation of tensions in the region.
Earlier in the day, Iranian officials said a tribute ceremony would take place in the capital before his body would be transported to the holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace, for burial.
However, authorities later confirmed that the event had been delayed, pointing to the massive number of mourners expected to attend.
Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, which is organising the funeral, said the postponement was necessary because of “the expected participation of millions of people and the need to provide the proper infrastructure” to manage the crowd.
Tehran has faced sustained missile strikes, with reported attacks on strategic military and government facilities since Saturday 28th February 2026.
While authorities have not directly connected the funeral’s postponement to the ongoing security challenges, the capital remains under heightened tension amid continuing strikes.
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