Iran Prepares for Dayslong Funeral of Supreme Leader Khamenei

In Dubai, a significant event is unfolding as Iran gears up for the extended funeral of their late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media released images showing Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, leader of the Revolutionary Guard, attending a meeting about Khamenei’s funeral preparations. He also attended a smaller service held Thursday night near the leader’s former residence in Tehran.

Vahidi plays a crucial role in shaping Iran’s firm approach in negotiations for a potential end to hostilities with the United States. Experts note that he belongs to an exclusive group closely linked with the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The younger Khamenei remains out of public view after allegedly being injured in Israeli strikes on February 28 that resulted in his father’s death. Vahidi had not been seen since early February, before the current conflict began.

The Iranian state media also broadcasted the mourning ceremony near the husseiniyah at Khamenei’s Tehran compound. His death resulted from an airstrike that also claimed the lives of some family members. During the ceremony, attendees saw Khamenei’s body in a coffin placed on a stage, adorned with red tulips and decorative paper butterflies hanging overhead.

Paying respects, mourners dressed in black, including those from families affected by the conflicts in 2025 and the recent hostilities, followed a custom of throwing items to touch the coffin. Later, images revealed Khamenei’s casket draped with a red flag from the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, Iraq. This flag, displaying the words “Ya Hussein,” symbolizes vengeance for unjust death and honors the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson.

On Friday, security forces carried Khamenei’s coffin to the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. Religious leaders walked alongside the coffins of Khamenei and his family, including his young granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani. Starting Saturday, Iran will conduct a prolonged funeral, moving Khamenei’s body through various cities in Iran and Iraq. Authorities plan to close streets, airspace, and routine activities in Tehran, reflecting the strong leadership Khamenei exercised over decades, particularly against Western influences.