Over 43m join Khamenei's funeral rites

Tens of millions of Iranians and devotees from across the world turned the funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, into the largest procession the world has ever witnessed, according to Fars News Agency.

The six-day grand farewell and burial rites for the revered Leader were held across five cities — Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad — drawing massive, passionate crowds that defied all previous records, it reported.

The ceremonies included three days in Tehran, two days of public mourning at the Grand Mosalla and one day of the main funeral procession, with each of the other cities hosting a full day of tributes. Many mourners traveled between cities, multiplying the scale of participation and creating a continuous wave of devotion.

Official estimates, compiled from multiple independent field and government sources, confirm that between 41 and 43 million people took part in the historic events.

These figures are based on a rigorous combination of data including public transport passenger records to and from ceremony sites, active mobile phone signals in key areas such as the Mosalla and main procession routes, average individual attendance duration of approximately two and a half hours, detailed crowd density calculations along Tehran’s procession paths, physical area measurements from Jamkaran Mosque to the Holy Shrine in Qom, and the route from the airport to the Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad.   

Millions of mourners turned out at the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS) in Iraq's holy city of Karbala on Wednesday for the funeral procession of Ayatollah Khamenei. Photo: Press TV

The endless sea of mourners, who had gathered since early morning, accompanied the vehicle carrying the blessed bodies, transforming the streets of Mashhad into a scene of unparalleled grandeur and devotion.

The sheer scale of the gathering defied description. From the moment the funeral vehicle entered Imam Reza Street, it was completely surrounded by waves of mourners who had traveled from every corner of Iran, all united in grief and determination.

Their tear-streaked faces and fervent chants filled the air, creating an atmosphere that observers described as one of the most remarkable displays of national unity in recent history.

Iraqi authorities, through the Prime Minister’s Office, separately verified the presence of around 10 million mourners in Najaf and Karbala, providing an important independent pillar for the overall calculation.

Even when applying the most conservative methodologies, Iranian officials and relevant authorities emphasize that this monumental event has surpassed every comparable gathering of the past century.

The tomb of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran. Photo: Dawn

It stands without doubt as the single largest funeral procession in recorded history, a powerful and everlasting testament to the deep love and unwavering allegiance of the Iranian people and the broader Islamic Ummah for their martyred Leader.

The Leader and members of his family were martyred in a terrorist attack on February 28, carried out by the United States and the Zionist regime against the leader's residence.

Among those martyred were new Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, the late leader’s son-in-law; a daughter of the late leader and his 14-month-old granddaughter.

The funeral ceremonies began last Friday, with tributes from political officials from over 45 countries and scholars from more than 90 nations. This was followed by farewell ceremonies at Tehran's Mosalla over the weekend, where millions paid their respects.

Mourners pack streets during the funeral procession for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, July 9, 2026. Photo: Press TV

Millions bid final farewell before Khamenei's burial in Mashhad

Millions of mourners bring several days of nationwide mourning to their climax in Mashhad, as the final farewell ceremony for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei concludes at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS).

Following unprecedented ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, Najaf and Karbala, the funeral procession reached its final destination in Mashhad, where the body was received by a massive crowd from across Iran and dozens of countries around the world to be buried at the shrine on Thursday.

The endless sea of mourners, who had gathered since early morning, accompanied the vehicle carrying the blessed bodies, transforming the streets of Mashhad into a scene of unparalleled grandeur and devotion.

Crowds of mourners surround the convoy carrying the coffins of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his family members during a funeral procession in Mashhad on 9 July 2026. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP

The sheer scale of the gathering defied description. From the moment the funeral vehicle entered Imam Reza Street, it was completely surrounded by waves of mourners who had traveled from every corner of Iran—Kurds, Turks, Persians, Arabs, and Lors—all united in grief and determination.

Their tear-streaked faces and fervent chants filled the air, creating an atmosphere that observers described as one of the most remarkable displays of national unity in recent history.

The slogans "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Death to those opposed to the Guardianship of the Jurist" reverberated throughout the procession route, reflecting the unwavering commitment of the people to the principles for which the martyred leader had stood throughout his life.

Red flags of vengeance bearing the inscriptions "Ya Letharat al-Hussein" (O Avengers of Hussein) and banners of the Islamic Republic waved across the streets, symbolising both mourning and the determination to seek justice.

Among the mourners, special attention was drawn to delegations from various ethnic groups. Sunni Muslims from Sistan and Baluchestan, dressed in their traditional white attire, were visibly present, having traveled to Mashhad to pay their respects.

Representatives from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, adorned in their distinctive local costumes, carried the national flag high above the crowds.

Mourners carry a huge banner threatening to kill US President Donald Trump before the burial of Ali Khamenei at Mashhad in Iran on Friday. Photo: AFP

The presence of diverse groups served as a powerful testament to the inclusive nature of the late leader's legacy and the deep bonds of unity he had fostered among all segments of Iranian society.

The significance of the event extended far beyond Iran's borders. Mourners from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Nigeria have crossed geographical boundaries to declare that the message of anti-arrogance, dignity, independence, and pride championed by the martyred leader had transcended borders and touched eager hearts worldwide.

A particularly poignant moment came when a Canadian pilgrim, who had traveled over 10,000 kilometers to be present, spoke of his profound respect for a man whose influence, he said, reached far beyond any single nation.

Similarly, a pilgrim from India expressed how the news of the leader's martyrdom had broken the hearts of Muslims across the subcontinent, bringing them to Mashhad to participate in this historic farewell.

A vehicle carrying coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, makes its way as people attend a funeral procession for Khamenei. Photo: Reuters

Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Nigerian Islamic Movement, was also present among the mourners, his participation underscoring the global resonance of the martyred leader's message of resistance against oppression and injustice.

Turkish mourners were heard chanting "Labbaik Ya Seyyed Mojtaba" (Here I am, O Seyyed Mojtaba), as were followers from Nigeria, demonstrating the international reach of the late leader's spiritual and political legacy.

At one point, the density of the crowd forced the vehicle to change course from Danesh Junction, moving instead toward the Ferdowsi football field, where a helicopter was deployed to transport the blessed bodies to the shrine.  

Throughout the procession, the voice of the martyred leader played from loudspeakers, prompting waves of collective weeping that swept through the multitude.

Placards bearing messages in English reading "We stand up to the end..." were visible among the crowds, conveying the determination of the people to continue the path of resistance.

Crowds of mourners surround the convoy carrying the coffin of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, during a funeral procession in Najaf, Iraq, on July 8, 2026. Photo: Press TV

The prayer for the deceased was led by the martyred leader’s eldest son Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei, who performed the ritual prayers over the bodies.

So vast was the congregation that in addition to the shrine itself, the prayers were also conducted along the streets of Navvab Safavi, Tabarsi, and Shirazi, where countless mourners had gathered.

The martyred Leader and members of his family were tragically martyred in a terrorist attack on February 28, carried out by the United States and the Zionist regime against the leader's residence. 

Among those martyred were new Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, the late leader’s son-in-law; a daughter of the late leader and his 14-month-old granddaughter.

Family members gather at the burial site of 168 students killed in a US attack on an elementary girls' school at Minab in Iran, on the same day of February 28 when Ali Khamenei was killed. Photo: Tehran Times

The funeral ceremonies began last Friday, with tributes from political officials from over 45 countries and scholars from more than 90 nations. This was followed by farewell ceremonies at Tehran's Mosalla over the weekend, where millions paid their respects.

On Tuesday, the bodies were processed through Tehran with similarly massive participation, and on Wednesday, ceremonies were held in Qom and at the Jamkaran Mosque.

The remarkable participation continued internationally when about 10 million Iraqis gathered in Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday to pay their respects.