Iran prepares 40th-day mourning events for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran prepares 40th-day mourning events for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran has begun preparations for 40th-day mourning and commemorative ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his burial.

Special events will take place in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and other Iranian cities to mark the occasion. Iran’s current Supreme Leader and Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will oversee the ceremonies.

According to reports, Ali Khamenei’s funeral and mourning ceremonies began on July 4 and continued across several Iranian cities. Officials also held commemorative gatherings in five major cities across Iran and Iraq — Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad. Authorities later buried the former supreme leader in Mashhad.

Millions of mourners from Iran and other parts of the world reportedly attended the funeral ceremonies. Senior delegations from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Russia, China and Türkiye, also travelled to Iran to attend the events and convey condolences.

Iranian authorities said Ali Khamenei died on February 28, the first day of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. His death marked a major political transition for the country.

Following his death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The upcoming 40th-day ceremonies are expected to draw large crowds and provide another major occasion for supporters to pay tribute to the former leader.

The events in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad are also expected to carry considerable political and religious significance as Iran continues to adjust to its new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei.