Iran has begun a week-long state funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, almost five months after he was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that initiated the war among the three countries. The upcoming ceremonies, which Tehran says will attract millions of mourners from across the country, will honor the country’s longest-serving leader. Tehran has also described the planned events as a demonstration of resilience in the face of threats from the United States and Israel of a return to military operations.
And, as the ceremonies got underway, Iranian officials issued a warning to the United States and Israel to refrain from taking military action, promising a forceful response to any perceived aggression.
A crew chief from the 158th Fighter Wing taxis an F-35 II Lightning in for rapid refueling and rearming, July 24, 2025, at Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass.
During the D-ICT exercise, F-15’s from the 104th Fighter Wing and F35’s from the 158th Fighter Wing received simultaneous rapid rearming and refueling from the 103AW C-130H Hercules with all engines running. Performing these D-ICT exercises helps aircraft quickly return to their mission and highlights our ability to distribute and operate from anywhere. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Jay Hewitt)
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Iran: A Funeral That Took Months to Organize
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on February 28 during the first wave of U.S. and Israeli attacks that targeted Iran’s political and military leadership. Under normal Islamic tradition, a burial takes place as soon as possible after death – but Khamenei’s funeral was delayed on multiple occasions because of continued fighting and mounting security concerns. Now, as the U.S. and Iran engage in technical talks in hopes of agreeing to a lasting peace deal next month, the funeral can proceed.
The state funeral officially began in Tehran, where Khamenei’s coffin was placed on display at the Grand Mosalla mosque complex.
The coffin has been visited by clerics, senior government officials, military commanders, foreign dignitaries, and thousands of Iranian mourners who filed past the coffin. What comes next is expected to be one of the largest public ceremonies ever hosted by the country.
The ceremonies will last several days before moving outside Tehran, with processions scheduled in Qom before proceeding to the Iraqi Shiite pilgrimage centers of Karbala and Najaf.
The funeral will eventually conclude on July 9, with Khamenei expected to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad at the Imam Reza Shrine – one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam.
Millions Expected to Attend
Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani said that authorities expect as many as 20 million people to attend funeral events across the capital, describing the ceremonies as the largest public gatherings in Iranian history.
City officials have spent days preparing temporary accommodations and crowd-control measures to ensure the events go ahead safely.
It will be only the second state funeral held for an Iranian supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The only event comparable in scale would be that which followed the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in June 1989, when millions of people filled the streets of Tehran. The procession ultimately descended into chaos, however, when mourners overwhelmed the security forces and caused a deadly stampede. This time, Iranian officials are planning to ensure the funeral goes off without a hitch – with peace on the streets and no additional military strikes conducted by the U.S. or Israel.
Senior delegations have arrived in Tehran from Russia, China, Iraq, Pakistan, Armenia, Tajikistan, India, Turkey, and Oman – as well as representatives of dozens of other countries.
Tehran Issues Warning
As preparations were ongoing, Iran issued a direct warning to Washington and Jerusalem against carrying out military strikes or operations during the funeral period.
“We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the U.S. and the Zionist regime (Israel), to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country,” Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in an official statement carried by state media.
Iran also introduced temporary airspace restrictions over several of its major cities, including Tehran and Mashhad. Security services and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have also been deployed in large numbers to protect the ceremonies.
The warnings also come after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sparked concern that the events could be targeted. On July 1, Katz said that the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been “marked for death.”
Speaking as U.S. and Iranian negotiators resumed indirect technical talks in Doha, Qatar, Katz warned that Israel would not allow Iran’s new supreme leader to rebuild the country’s military or its nuclear capabilities, and warned that Khamenei himself was a legitimate target of the Israel Defense Forces.
His comments prompted an immediate response from Iran, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accusing Israel of threatening Iran’s leadership in violation of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) – a document to which Israel does not consider itself bound. Araqchi warned that “any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response.”
Araqchi also urged the Trump administration to ensure that Israel complied with the terms of the ceasefire, writing on X that President Trump had committed the United States to “muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv.”
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
