Inside Khamenei's funeral: Revealing moments from a week of mourning

Inside Khamenei's funeral: Revealing moments from a week of mourning Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 09:26 Political signals and power dynamics emerge from Iran’s elaborate farewell ceremonies Mourners react next to the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on 28 February in Israeli and US air strikes, and coffins of his family members, on the day of his burial, in Mashhad, Iran, 9 July 2026 (Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters) Off Iran 's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , was laid to rest on 9 July after a week-long funeral procession following his assassination in a US - Israeli strike in February. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was succeeded by his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The funeral ceremonies, held across several cities in Iran and Iraq, drew millions of mourners, according to state figures.