Funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commenced in Tehran on 4 July, drawing heads of government, parliamentary speakers, foreign ministers and senior delegations from nearly 100 countries. The solemn proceedings turned deeply emotional, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visibly breaking down in tears at the farewell ceremony.

Security and Logistics at Grand Mosalla

Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian confirmed that the highest level of security had been deployed for the farewell and send-off ceremony, describing the late leader as 'the martyred Leader.' The gates of Tehran's Grand Mosalla Prayer Grounds opened at 6 am local time, with authorities indicating the timing could be advanced if circumstances required. Mourners were urged to plan their arrival accordingly.

In a related development, Baghdad Governor Atwan Al-Atwani announced a citywide shutdown to facilitate funeral processions linked to the late Iranian leader, according to reports.

India's Representation and Tributes

India was represented at the ceremony by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain. The Embassy of Iran in India, in a post on X, stated: 'Indian Dignitaries Pay Tribute to the Martyred Leader of Iran, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.' The embassy also shared photographs featuring People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who heads the party's foreign affairs department.

Global Leaders in Attendance

The gathering at Grand Mosalla included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje'i and Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani. Among the international leaders present were Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi and Turkmenistan People's Council Chairman Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

Russia sent Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev as its representative. Turkey was represented by Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, while Saudi Arabia sent Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al Khereiji. Also in attendance were the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev, senior representatives of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Parliamentary speakers from Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan attended, along with foreign ministers from Nicaragua, Congo and Burkina Faso, Egypt's Senate president, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement and the Speaker of Oman's Parliament.

Scale and Scope of the Mourning

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at least eight heads of government — including presidents and prime ministers — along with parliamentary speakers from 12 countries were expected at the ceremony. Many other nations sent foreign ministers, cabinet ministers or special envoys, while public figures and delegations from nearly 100 countries participated overall. Notably, countries that officially backed the military action by Israel and the United States against Iran were not invited, Baghaei confirmed.

Iran's state broadcaster described the funeral as one of the largest international gatherings held in the country in recent years. Iranian officials estimated that between 15 and 20 million people could participate across the multi-day mourning ceremonies.

What Comes Next

Additional ceremonies are scheduled in Qom, Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf. The final burial is planned in Mashhad on 9 July. The scale of international attendance underscores the geopolitical weight of Khamenei's passing at a moment of acute tension in the region following military exchanges involving Iran, Israel and the United States.